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INTOLERABLE CRUELTY

“You fascinate me”.

The way George Clooney delivered that line in the commercial for Intolerable Cruelty was basically enough to make me want to see the new Coen Bros. flick.
Unfortunately, despite great performances from Clooney and the stunning Catherine Zeta Jones, there wasn’t much else going for it.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cool movie, and enjoyable too, but I expected more.

George Clooney play Miles Massey, an extremely successful divorce attorney who becomes professionally and personally entwined with Catherine Zeta Jones, a relentless gold digger.
Part of my problem with this movie might stem from the fact that while both characters are greedy, Clooney’s likable, while Zeta Jones isn’t. At least not really. She’s not a stereo-typically nasty bitch…or at least she’s not bitchy enough to be despised, but she's not nice. Know what I mean?
Not even sure if I do anymore.

Both performances are great though, and Clooney in particular steals the show. After seeing him in this movie, I definitely prefer him in comedies than in straight dramas. Also great are Richard Jenkins as Clooney’s right hand man, and Billy Bob Thorton, who is surprisingly funny.

So I did it again, I seem to be putting the movie down, but giving at an all right grade. It’s just that the acting and the laughs we do get are good enough to help you forget the disappointments, you know? When it’s all said and done Intolerable Cruelty is basically a romantic comedy…the Coen Bros. without much of the Coen weirdness. There is some, believe me, but maybe it needed more?

B -

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