“The whole thing is a triumphant exercise in the art of silliness for its own sake.”  Sandra Hall - Sydney Morning Herald

“chuckle away, by all means - but also watch this with open eyes, and you might just begin to suspect that the absurd collateral damage on show here is a worrying reflection of the world that we all live in, where the dumb lead the dumber.”  Anton Bitel - Eye for Film

The Coen Brothers are experts at heightening reality.  Restraint is not a feature of their work.  In this case the lack of restraint is shown in the increasingly unlikely events that unfold as the film progresses.  In a neighbourhood gym a dumb (in the sense of stupid) trainer, (brilliantly played against type by Brad Pitt), finds a file of top secret information and sets in train a trail of events that involve a wide range of people played by an amazingly high profile and wonderful cast.

Life is shown in all its everyday ordinariness, but transformed simultaneously into high drama and low farce.  This is the Coen Brothers in comic mode - and yes, as usual there is blood and violence, but not relentlessly as in No Country for Old Men.

This is a genre film - a criminal caper - but twisted to their own unique way of looking at the world and the foibles of its people.  With underneath it all, a serious message or two about appreciating the reality right in front of you.