Intolerable Cruelty
It's "comic gold" (Boston Globe) as two of Hollywood's most dazzling stars-George Clooney and Academy Award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones-light up the screen in Intolerable Cruelty, a hilarious romantic comedy about men, women and everything that can go wrong between them. Sparks fly when brilliant divorce attorney Miles Massey (Clooney) meets his match in the beautiful but ruthless Marilyn Rexroth (Zeta-Jones). From Academy Award winning directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou?), Intolerable Cruelty also stars multi-talented Bill Bob Thornton and hilarious Cedric the Entertainer. Hailed "easily the funniest film of the year" (Sixty Second Preview) you'll enjoy the laughs again and again!
Member Reviews
The best of the Coen/Clooney Idiot Trilogy - canuck2
George Clooney has described three of his Coen Brothers films (O Brother Where Art Thou, Intolerable Cruelty and Burn After Reading) as his Idiot trilogy. In my humble opinion, this is the best of the three. Clooney's character is not too sharp to be sure but the writing is and the characters, though not likeable, offer entertainment from start to finish. A battle of the sexes screwball comedy set in the world of divorce court, this is a film that deserves to be seen.Taking a romantic comedy to cynical and hilarious extremes - napierslogs
A romantic comedy where love is completely removed from the equation but the comedy is multiplied. "Intolerable Cruelty" takes place in a time and place where marriages fall apart. All marriages will collapse, implode, and be completely annihilated. And if it doesn't happen on the day of the wedding, divorce lawyers will make sure it happens soon thereafter.
It's as cynical as you can possibly get, but the film keeps a light tone so it's more funny than disheartening. It focuses on man's (and woman's) greed for money and the cons to pull to get there. Successful people have learned how to use marriage solely for personal financial gain. Miles (George Clooney) though might just fall in love when he meets Marylin (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who seems to have perfected this game. Anybody would fall in love with Catherine Zeta-Jones in this movie, but money is way more important than love.
It took me multiple viewings to successfully follow the trail of money and broken hearts, and that's the sign of a good film. The comedy is fast, funny and smart and will keep you entertained throughout even if you do get confused with who is conning whom. "Intolerable Cruelty" is as funny and cynical as you can possibly get, but that's one great combination.
Follow my blog Napierslogs' Movie Expositions at http://napierslogs.blogspot.comTolerably Amusing - Stitch
But far from a lighthearted romp. I couldn’t decide if there was a message in the lack of chemistry between Clooney and Zeta Jones, or were the Coen’s just not giving this one their crisp attention? Or as another reviewer commented, is their a darker undertone to the alleged message that love will conquer all? Because the relationship aspects never manage to ditch the aura of cynicism that permeates the first three quarters.
These are not very nice people and we never do muster much sympathy for them as the story unfolds. Contrast this with Lebowski or Fargo that had a healthy dose of unhealthy people, yet we still managed to care for several. The screenplay doesn’t help because there’s no hint of inner worthiness developed up front. And Zeta Jones plays very much to character; her career and personal life have always carried the scent of a very calculated trajectory. Which is why she works so well in Traffic, as the wife who never loses sight of the main chance.
Clooney is beginning to slide into a caricature of himself; he really needs to take on a character that will prove he has some range. Otherwise he’ll become the Harrison Ford of the next generation, a journeyman profitably reprising old personas until he fades from serious consideration. My bride, one of his biggest fans, muttered that his boyish bit is really getting a bit worn. And Billy Bob Thornton is approaching cringe-inducing; whatever happened to pride of performance such as we saw in Sling Blade?
Bottom line for Cruelty…some clever dialogue in places and some decent hard-edged satire. Including the whole keynote speech scenario, so improbable I suspect it was double sugared to pique the curiosity of us long time fans. I mean, what’s Ethan really teasing us with here?
Not their best effort but a hint of an enigma. Or am I reading too much into a B-grade film?
Member Reviews
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The best of the Coen/Clooney Idiot Trilogy - canuck2
George Clooney has described three of his Coen Brothers films (O Brother Where Art Thou, Intolerable Cruelty and Burn After Reading) as his Idiot trilogy. In my humble opinion, this is the best of the three. Clooney's character is not too sharp to be sure ...Taking a romantic comedy to cynical and hilarious extremes - napierslogs
A romantic comedy where love is completely removed from the equation but the comedy is multiplied. "Intolerable Cruelty" takes place in a time and place where marriages fall apart. All marriages will collapse, implode, and be completely annihilated. And if ...Tolerably Amusing - Stitch
But far from a lighthearted romp. I couldn’t decide if there was a message in the lack of chemistry between Clooney and Zeta Jones, or were the Coen’s just not giving this one their crisp attention? Or as another reviewer commented, is their a darker undertone ...