MOVIEW REVIEW: ‘Intolerable Cruelty’ proves to be one to love
Grade: A-
When it comes to movies by the Coen brothers, you either love them or you hate them. Their ability to take real-life situations blown out of proportion and mix them with a heavy dose of random plot twists and unforgettably weird characters makes for quite a ride. “Intolerable Cruelty,” their latest offering, proves to be an enjoyable addition to their unique repertoire, and even teaches us a thing or two about the nature of love.
The story is a mix of malicious Beverly Hills soap opera and classic battle of the sexes. It follows Miles Massey (George Clooney), a bulletproof divorce attorney who never lets little things like the law or the truth keep him from winning a case. He meets his match, however, in Marilyn Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones), the wealth-digging, marry-them-for-their-money, woman he falls in love with. Of course all of this is mixed with insane comedy and Massey’s obsession with the color of his teeth.
Zeta-Jones and Clooney are a great pair. The two banter like pros, and the chemistry existing between them was almost physically tangible. The supporting cast was also as always star-studded (although Coen mainstay John Goodman was absent) and included Geoffrey Rush, Cedric the Entertainer and Billy Bob Thornton.
The plot of “Cruelty” twisted and turned its way through the film, and although at times the plot seemed shallow and transparent, things would always happen in ways you least suspected. A great example is the comically disturbing death of a hired hitman in the movie.
This is by far the best offering of the fall season, and probably the best film the Coen brothers have made. I’ve been lukewarm about most of their other films until the second or third screening (I still don’t particularly care for “Raising Arizona”), but this one struck home after the first viewing.
Maybe it was the richness of the story, or maybe it was the absence of exploding motorcycle gorillas. Or maybe it was just because this movie drove home the point that love isn’t all rose petals and diamonds. Love has its hard edges and often draws blood. But if that love is real it can even overcome the Massey pre-nup.
“Intolerable Cruelty” is worth the price of the ticket just for the great acting. But open yourself up to the twisted Coen story line, the hilarity of pain and a movie that not only entertains, but makes a brilliant statement about life. If nothing else, go because the film gives us hope for the holiday movie season. Things are definitely looking up.
Jared Sterzer is a senior majoring in business information systems. Comments may be sent to jwsterz@cc.usu.edu.