Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
Certainly not as funny as "Raising
Arizona" and not as quirky as "Fargo," the latest
film from the Coen brothers is nonetheless creative
and comedic. George Clooney continues to prove himself
an adequate performer in the brothers' eccentric genre
by providing Miles Massey, a intense and intelligent
divorce lawyer who is initially very obsessed with
his teeth. As the film progresses, Massey will have
distractions of the feminine nature which will eventually
supersede his interest in his personal dentistry.
Everyone who has seen any preview
material for the film knows that Clooney's Miles becomes
infatuated with Catherine Zeta- Jones when he represents
her philandering husband, Edward Herrmann, in divorce
proceedings. But the plot really goes far more deeply
than this and the story takes numerous twists and
turns as it unfolds. We expect the courtroom proceedings
between Herrmann and CZJ to be the climax of the film
but that event, in fact, takes place in the first
third of the film, leaving the brothers with over
an hour of extended aftermath to delight us with in
the dealing. Sadly, this part of the film continually
loses steam.
The problem with "Intolerable Cruelty"
is that after the initial build-up to the coupling
between Clooney and CZJ reaches a crescendo of sorts,
everything after seems deflated and downhill. The
film looses speed in the second half as it goes happily
into the territory of the absurd. Also, CZJ, who is
no great actress, cannot play her character without
letting us see that something is up. We know there's
going to be a catch, and there is.
But "Intolerable Cruelty" is filled
with interesting actors playing roles better than
the lackluster fare they are usually offered. Geoffrey
Rush, Billy Bob Thornton, Julia Duffy and Cedric the
Entertainer are among the easily recognizable secondary
players here who get to playful support the main players.
And then there are the unfamiliar faces that really
do awesome work here, like Paul Adelstein, as Wrigley,
a sort of less-obvious Smithers to Clooney's younger,
sexier Mr. Burns. Everybody seems to be having a hoot.
This makes the film more enjoyable throughout.
In the final analysis, "Intolerable
Cruelty" is a simply marvellous and fun movie. The
plot may seem a bit watered down from the Coens' usual
intensity, but that may be because the brothers are
working from someone else's script this time. Robert
Ramsey and Matthew Stone provide a delightfully devilish
script from which the brothers work. They take co-
scripter credits and it is pretty easy to ascertain
which elements of the piece are theirs. For example,
Massey's goofy obsession with his incisors is certainly
a Coen touch. And while the ending may be seen for
a few blocks in the coming, it remains eclectic and
madcap thanks to the demented duo. While watching
the film I continually wished they were re- making
"What's Up, Doc?" That's the sort of sophisticated,
witty, zaniness the brothers reach here.
Consider "Intolerable Cruelty" Coen
Brothers "Lite." And there absolutely nothing wrong
with that.
Note:
During production the film was known
as simply "Intolerable."
Produced by Brian Grazer.
Music by Carter Burwell. The music
of Simon and Garfunkel is used throughout the film.
Elvis' "Suspicious Minds" is used in full over the
opening titles.
Viewed in Austin in October 2003
with my roomie Amanda.
