| Intolerable Cruelty, A Coenhead writes... |
| Posted on 14/10/03 at 07:46 by bluestu |
Intolerable Cruelty is the Coen Brothers' tenth film proper and the one which seems set to win them widespread public acclaim at long last. Long the critics' darlings, the Coens have never been big box office despite the Oscar success of Fargo and the general reception of O Brother! Where Art Thou?. Their films tend to break even or even lose money, despite the Coens' cult status and dedicated following.
This is the first Coens' film that they haven't entirely scripted themselves, being based on an old treatment by Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone that has been knocking around Hollywood for nigh on a decade. That, the fact that George Clooney and Catherine Zeta Jones star whilst Coen regulars such as Steve Buscemi, John Turturro and John Goodman are absent, and that Universal Studios bankrolled the picture, has led to claims that the Coens have sold out. Far from it. The picture is a lot more linear that their usual efforts and is undeniably mainstream, but you can tell this is a Coen film from a mile off. A top notch supporting cast, intelligent rapid-fire dialogue, tricksy visuals, clever editing, a great score, they're all present. Coen regulars Roger Deakins and Carter Burwell are in respectively in charge of cinematography and music and do their usual excellent work. As does Roderick Jaynes (!) with the editing.
To the plot, then, such as it is. George Clooney, in wonderful mugging form, plays Myles Massey, a high-powered Los Angeles Divorce Attorney. Massey is at the very peak of his profession and despairs, Alexander-like, that he has no more worlds to conquer. Boring of his job, he has lost all lust for life until Marylin Rexroth (Zeta Jones) enters his world. Massey, of course, is representing her husband, and destroys Marylin in an hilarious courtroom scene by introducing a surprise witness, an eccentric European Baron whom introduced her and her husband. Like one of the Sirens in Clooney's last Coen appearance, Marilyn entrances Massey, and he vows to make her his. Then she marries a Texan oil billionaire, Howard Doyle, played by the verbose Billy Bob Thornton... Like Julianne Moore says in The Big Lebowski, "You can guess where it goes from there..."
As ever with the Coens, it's the little touches that make the film. An inspired animated Cupid themed title sequence, soundtracked by Elvis' Suspicious Minds. A coffee table magazine entitled "Living Without Intestines". Massey's obsession with clean teeth, a 21st century equivalent to Ulysses Everett McGill's pomade fixation. Best of all though, is the bizarre supporting cast. The wonderfully named Cedric the Entertainer plays a private eye whose catch phrase, "I'm gonna nail yo ass", is sure to be repeated by zany students everywhere for the next decade, and provides the final line of the film. Wheezy Joe, an asthmatic hitman, who perishes in the most shocking and hilarious fashion since Marvin in Pulp Fiction. Massey's boss, Herb Myerson, a hate-filled lawyer surviving only thanks to a series of machines, pumps and drips and an obsession with billable hours. The lacrimose Wrigley, Massey's Smithers-like assistant.
In short, go see it. If you love the Coens, you'll love this. If you don't love the Coens, frankly you don't deserve a film this good.
|
|
| Discuss this article on the Forum |
| Comments |
|