ongoing

When worlds collide ... chaos happens. It's a theme the Joel and Ethan have explored it  a few times - quite chillingly in "No Country For Old Men" - and it's one they return to in a somewhat lighter fashion in "Burn After Reading," starring George Clooney, Frances MacDormand, John Malkovich and Brad Pitt. By lighter we do not mean that nobody gets killed. Come on, it's the Coens! Maybe even one big name gets it, early-ish, like Janet Leigh in "Psycho." The plot, a twisted web, involves Osborne Cox (Malkovich), a CIA analyst who is bounced from his job. He goes home to stew and brew, and decides writing his memoirs in order. Those memoirs - on a misplaced CD - propel the others on their merry, mistaken journey through this misadventure.

 Linda Litzke (McDoramand) and Chad Feldheimer (Pitt) come into possession of the CD; they work at the gym, Hardbodies. Neither one of them has very supple minds. Linda seems kinda sweet, but really she just wants $50,000 for four surgical operations to revive her lost beauty; Chad is just walking dumb and when it dawns on him that he could blackmail Cox for this CD that might have valuable spy info on it, he thinks his ship has come in. Did we mention the various folks having affairs? The subtext to this dramedy, it would seem: Everyone's pursuing self-interest to the max. Do not forget this. If there's a solution that seems easy, if unethical, take it. We're reminded of this in J.K. Simmonds character, the CIA boss, who, when told of two surprising deaths, shrugs, and tells the guy under him to burn the bodies. That'll do it. And, it seems to in Coenland. This, like "No Man," ends abruptly. Some of the threads are tied up, others aren't and when it jerks to a halt, you immediately think, but wait, what about ... And, of course, this makes it all more lifelike. Lots of bungling, no order, no logic, lots of mistakes, career loss or death around every corner (potentially). There's humor, of course - Pitt's a hoot as the stooge, and when you see the contraption Clooney's character Harry Pfarrer has built for his wife (and girlfriend), you will not be able to stifle a laugh. But there's a rhythm of cruelty going on here, or at least, a vast indifference toward one's fellow human. Tickets: $9,75. Check website below for theaters and times.

www.mrmoviesboston.com