Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
I’m really not a Coen Brothers fan, even though I’ve sat through several of their films with an open mind and a willingness to laugh. Intolerable Cruelty and Hail, Caesar! are the only films of theirs I not only like, but love!
George Clooney stars as a successful and famous divorce lawyer, but he confides to his faithful assistant, Paul Adelstein, that he’s bored with his life. While protecting his client, Edward Hermann, from surrendering a huge divorce settlement, he finds himself falling for the gold-digging wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones! George and Catherine have fantastic chemistry together, and the sparks practically fly off the screen! Catherine is incredibly beautiful—as always—and even when you’re hating what she’s doing, you’ll still love watching her do it. George’s subtle touches to his character make him so realistic in his role, and he plans out his comedic delivery with separate perfect beats for stutters, expressions, and words.
Everyone in the film is at their comedic prime, delivering the hilarious lines with impeccable timing and amazingly straight faces. Even though I own this movie and have enjoyed watching it at least twenty times by now, I still can’t pick a favorite scene, joke, or character. Paul Adelstein’s palpable disgust when he eats at a greasy spoon is so relatable, and when he finally bursts out, “Why are we eating here?” it has me in heaps of laughter every time. Geoffrey Rush opens the film in a hilarious vignette, and every second he’s on the screen there’s something to laugh at. Richard Jenkins, Edward Hermann, and Billy Bob Thorton also have small but memorable roles, and the movie wouldn’t be nearly complete without them.
From “Have you ever sat before her before?” to “What are you nuts, have you forgotten Kershner?” to “I told him it was no-go”, Intolerable Cruelty is full of lines that will quickly become household phrases. Give it a watch, and if we have the same sense of humor, I know you’ll love it as much as I do!
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!
George Clooney stars as a successful and famous divorce lawyer, but he confides to his faithful assistant, Paul Adelstein, that he’s bored with his life. While protecting his client, Edward Hermann, from surrendering a huge divorce settlement, he finds himself falling for the gold-digging wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones! George and Catherine have fantastic chemistry together, and the sparks practically fly off the screen! Catherine is incredibly beautiful—as always—and even when you’re hating what she’s doing, you’ll still love watching her do it. George’s subtle touches to his character make him so realistic in his role, and he plans out his comedic delivery with separate perfect beats for stutters, expressions, and words.
Everyone in the film is at their comedic prime, delivering the hilarious lines with impeccable timing and amazingly straight faces. Even though I own this movie and have enjoyed watching it at least twenty times by now, I still can’t pick a favorite scene, joke, or character. Paul Adelstein’s palpable disgust when he eats at a greasy spoon is so relatable, and when he finally bursts out, “Why are we eating here?” it has me in heaps of laughter every time. Geoffrey Rush opens the film in a hilarious vignette, and every second he’s on the screen there’s something to laugh at. Richard Jenkins, Edward Hermann, and Billy Bob Thorton also have small but memorable roles, and the movie wouldn’t be nearly complete without them.
From “Have you ever sat before her before?” to “What are you nuts, have you forgotten Kershner?” to “I told him it was no-go”, Intolerable Cruelty is full of lines that will quickly become household phrases. Give it a watch, and if we have the same sense of humor, I know you’ll love it as much as I do!
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!