Coen Brothers - "You Know, For Kids!" the movies of the Coen brothers

YEAR 2003 RUNNING TIME 1hr 38m MPAA PG13 BBFC 12A BUDGET $60m US BOX OFFICE $35,327,628 +OVERSEAS $76,832,395

SYNOPSIS: Intoelrable Cruelty is a romantic comedy about a man who wins in court and a woman who courts to win.

A mix of Beverley Hills high glamour and maliciously competitive fun, it brings together in movie matrimony the high-powered filmmaking talents of Academy Award winners Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, 8 Mile) and Joel Coen & Ethan Coen with two of the screen's biggest and brightest stars, George Clooney and Academy Award winner, Catherine Zeta-Jones, along with a cast of unusual pedigree, including Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, Cedric the Entertainer, Edward Herrmann and Richard Jenkins.

Clooney portrays Miles Massey, a prominant Los Angeles divorce attorney who has everything- and in some cases, two of everything. Despite his impressive client list, a formidable win record, the respect of his peers and an ironclad contract (the "Massey pre-nup") named after him, he's reached a crossroads in his life. Sated on success, boredom has set in and he's looking for new challenges.

All that changes when Miles meets his match in the devastating Marylin Rexroth (Zeta-Jones). Marylin is the soon-to-be-ex-wife of his client Rex Rexroth (Herrmann), a wealthy real estate developer and habitual philanderer. With the help of hard charging private investigator Gus Petch (Cedric the Entertainer), she has Rex nailed and is looking forward to the financial independance a successful divorce will bring. But thanks to Miles' considerable skills, she ends up with nothing.

Not to be outdone, Marylin schemes to get even and as part of her plan, quickly marries oil tycoon Howard Doyle (Billy Bob Thornton). Miles and his unflappable associate, Wrigley (Paul Adelstein), unwittingly dig themselves in deeper and deeper as they go head-to-head with Marylin. Underhand tactices, deceptions and an undeniable attraction escalate as Marylin and Miles square off in this classic battle of the sexes.

NOTES: The female Judge, the honourable Marva Munson, shares her name with the character played by Irma P. Hall in The Ladykillers.

The role of Marylin Rexroth, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, was originally to be played by Juila Roberts. Also, the role of Miles Massey was to be played by Richard Gere. I know, sounds awful doesn't it :-)

AWARDS: N/A

Despite all the silly sell-out criticism that greeted the news that the Coen brothers were making a movie with big-time Hollywood producer, Brain Grazer, and from someone else's written material, this movie is infused with trademark Coen-isms. It is obvious that the brothers re-wrote the already-existing screenplay (working with someone else's material was a first for them) quite extensively. Some of the characters, Wheezy Joe, Rex Rexroth, Howard Doyle and, most definitely, Miles Massey himself could easily exist within the bizarre universe that the Coen brothers have created in some of their previous movies.

What should be asked when this movie is watched is, is a good movie? And the answer is definitely a resounding yes. But is it on a par with Barton Fink, Miller's Crossing, Fargo, The Big Lebowski or O Brother, Where Art Thou? well, no it isn't but what needs to be remembered is that they are very tough acts to follow. Perhaps the Coen's biggest fault is thier own high standards?

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT A BRIAN GRAZER PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALPHAVILLE

GEORGE CLOONEY CATHERINE ZETA JONES "INTOLERABLE CRUELTY" GEOFFREY RUSH CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER EDWARD HERRMANN RICHARD JENKINS AND BILLY BOB THORNTON CASTING BY ELLEN CHENOWETH

MUSIC BY CARTER BURWELL COSTUME DESIGN MARY ZOPHRES CO-PRODUCERS JOHN CAMERON JAMES WHITAKER EDITED BY RODERICK JAYNES PRODUCTION DESIGNER LESLIE McDONALD DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ROGER DEAKINS, A.S.C, B.S.C

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS JAMES JACKS SEAN DANIEL PRODUCED BY ETHAN COEN BRIAN GRAZER STORY BY ROBERT RAMSEY & MATTHEW STONE AND JOHN ROMANO SCREENPLAY BY ROBERT RAMSEY & MATTHEW STONE AND ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN DIRECTED BY JOEL COEN