Intolerable Cruelty

Name: Intolerable Cruelty
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Crime
Released: October 10, 2003
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Catherine Zeta Jones, George Clooney

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 98 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 98 Ratings

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Intolerable Cruelty

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: October 10, 2003 | PG-13

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Catherine Zeta Jones, George Clooney

Summary: A romantic comedy about a man who wins in court and a woman who courts to win. (Universal Pictures)

Director: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Damon Wise

Tight as a drum, glamorous and exquisitely funny, this one should earn them (Coens) enough cash to make five more offbeat minor masterpieces like "The Man Who Wasn't There" -- and the Coens deserve that as much as we do. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Elegant, cheerfully cynical fun of the kind we used to get regularly from Billy Wilder, Howard Hawks and other masters of the classic Hollywood screwball comedy -- all those '30s-'40s movies about rich people sloshed, or acting crazy and running romantically amok. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

It's over-the-top. It's wild. It's filled with outrageous behavior all around. Read full review

Liam Lacey

Mostly, it's a Coen brothers movie so slick, so careful in rationing its darkly perverse and personal elements, that it seems suspiciously sweet. Intolerable Cruelty feels like the Coens' peculiar new way of being cynical, by pretending they're not. Read full review

Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky

The first half of Intolerable Cruelty is more than tolerable; it's a dopey kick full of goofy jokes tossed off so quickly you're reminded less of bickering-bantering Grant and Rosalind Russell than Groucho and Chico Marx. Read full review

Connie Ogle

If it's not quite as funny as you want it to be, it's still more than enough to keep you entertained. Read full review

Rick Kisonak

This is a decidedly hit or miss deal which, despite the current outpouring of critical praise, is destined to rank among the Coen's least memorable achievements. Read full review

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User Reviews

Pablo6120

Apr 21, 2016

Not many films make me belly-laugh, but this gem from the Coen brothers is what satire should be. Great casting, slick writing and a perverse slant all point at a superb flick; well worth seeking out.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

NickTheCritick

Nov 2, 2021

This brilliant romantic comedy works in everything from the directing to the acting of the two main actors George Clooney and Catherine Z-Jones at the top of their game. This movie is a perfect homage to Preston Sturges' Hollywood premarital comedy and it's filled of Coen's dark humour.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 23, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film is quite predictable in one way but its also quite witty in another - the two main characters (played by George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones) are certainly devious and clever in their own way but things, shall I say, don't always work out (you'll have to watch the film to find out more). I liked that it featured what I felt was a good 'meeting of minds' if you will - the scenes with the two characters flirting made for good cinema, in terms of the one upmanship. This being a Cohen brothers film, its reasonably stylish in a visual way, the colour/lighting is mostly in yellow, for one thing.

There were some quirky characters - I'm not sure why one of the people in a Las Vegas scene is clearly Scottish, although given Clooney wears a kilt in said scenes, I assume there's reason for it. Also I liked Billy Bob Thorntons character.

There were some quite amusing scenes, when things turn a bit pear shaped - I enjoyed those and I also liked the madcap dream scenes. Its definitely a quirky watch but a quite entertaining one. I suppose aspects of the plot could be thought of as a bit cliched but I felt that, overall, it was a well made film, so I'd recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Aug 24, 2018

This romantic comedy talks about marriages and divorces, and is a direct criticism of the way society views these things. The story is simple and works well: a gold digger seeks to dig her way to her own wealth. For this, she marries rich men and divorces as soon as she has the opportunity,This romantic comedy talks about marriages and divorces, and is a direct criticism of the way society views these things. The story is simple and works well: a gold digger seeks to dig her way to her own wealth. For this, she marries rich men and divorces as soon as she has the opportunity, even maneuvering with prenuptial conventions. However, she ends up in love when she attempts to strike again, this time on a wealthy marriage lawyer who prevented her from raising a fortune in the last divorce. How can this couple, who started out so uncommonly, learn to trust each other?

Well, for those who know a little about the Coen brothers' cinematographic work, this film will certainly seem like one of the most conventional and commercial films they've done. But that does not make the movie bad. The two filmmakers have always done a good job and have always sought a personal path, which is more or less between the indie cinema and the commercial cinema to which we are accustomed. It would be bad if the cinema were entirely made up of films almost unintelligible and full of metaphorical and philosophical meanings. And the traditional mark of these filmmakers is very present, in the notes of sarcastic humor about morality and marriage. George Clooney is an excellent actor and plays very well with Zeta Jones, with whom he shares the protagonism. Both actors stay away from passionate stunts. Here, love is cold and comes from a situation of tension, in which both behave as true chess players, or poker players. The support cast does a good job and is essential for the movie's most comedic moments. Finally, a note of appreciation for the initial credits, very well imagined and with a nice touch of humor.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

JamesNWA

Mar 8, 2011

It is safe to say that this film is not what I expected at all but it did have some elements that make it worthy of having a higher end score; those being George Clooney showing his comedic side and the addition of Catherine Zeta Jones. I would perhaps rate it slightly higher if I didn't getIt is safe to say that this film is not what I expected at all but it did have some elements that make it worthy of having a higher end score; those being George Clooney showing his comedic side and the addition of Catherine Zeta Jones. I would perhaps rate it slightly higher if I didn't get distracted half way though.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

geewah

Jan 25, 2021

Along with "The Labykillers" which followed this movie, the Coen's managed to make two of their worst movies back to back.
The jokes are thin, the characters unlikable, just a really disappointing effort.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BarryB.

Nov 13, 2003

Couldn't agree more with the nonprofessional critics. You know the ones like you and I who pay to see this crap. No chemistry at all between the two visons of pulchritude. Were they acting or playing themselves?

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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84	#84 Best Movie of 2003
77	#77 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
89	#89 Most Shared Movie of 2003