If there’s one thing I like about the Coen Brothers, it is that there films routinely show a wide knowledge of film history. Classic genres as diverse as slapstick, farce, suspense and film noir all inform their various movies. And sometimes, like in their upcoming dark spy comedy Burn After Reading, its possible that all those influences come into play. We don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but the movie centers on anunpublished memoir written by a disgruntled former-CIA operative (John Malkovich) that falls into the hands of two dimwitted gym instructors (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt).
What’s great is the film’s first released poster (click to make bigger), which appeared over at Cinematical. The bold color design and off-kilter, blockish design recall the style of poster artist Saul Bass, who created memorable promotional art for such films as Vertigo, Anatomy Of A Murder and The Man With The Golden Arm. The Coens are definitely giving us a hint of what to expect from the film when it opens on September 12.
