Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

Intolerable Cruelty (2003, USA) C-100m. ** D: Joel Coen. Starring George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Geoffrey Rush, cedric the Entertainer, Edward Herrmann, Paul Adelstein, Richard Jenkins, Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Campbell. Big disappointment from the Coen brothers about divorce lawyer Clooney (about the best one there is), who meets his match in beautiful, infatuating Zeta-Jones, who becomes his adversary in several cases (including a very private one). A few scattered laughs, but look for satire in vain. Only the performances by the stars are good, although Zeta-Jones changes her opinion so many times, her character becomes totally incredible, and the supporting cast are not very-well integrated. In fact, it seems like the Coens only did the casting (some of their typically weird characters pop up) and filmed the scenes about Clooney's boss. This was their first film where they had cowriters - let's hope they rely on their own ideas next time. Score by Carter Burwell.


BUY JOEL COEN MOVIES ON VHS & DVD

© Ron Altman