A divorce attorney meets his match in the Coen Brothers' most expensive mainstream gamble.
In short: Before they were icons of independent cinema, the Coen Brothers took on a studio project that felt like a departure from their usual fare. Intolerable Cruelty is a polished, star-studded romantic comedy that pits a ruthless divorce lawyer against a serial predator, resulting in a high-stakes game of matrimonial deception.
Released in 2003, Intolerable Cruelty marked the first time Joel and Ethan Coen worked as writers-for-hire. The project had a long, winding history, passing through the hands of various directors and writers—including Carrie Fisher, who worked on the script in 1994—before the Coens finally took the helm. It was originally intended for Jonathan Demme, with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant attached to star, but the Coens eventually stepped in after their own project, To The White Sea, failed to materialize. With a budget of $60 million, it stood as the most expensive film they had directed up to that point.
The plot centers on Miles Massey, a high-powered attorney who prides himself on the 'Massey pre-nup,' a supposedly foolproof legal document. His world is upended by Marylin Rexroth, a woman who treats marriage as a predatory business venture. Their relationship is a chaotic dance of fake identities, hitmen, and shifting fortunes. The film’s narrative is driven by the tension between their cynical legal maneuvers and the genuine, if inconvenient, attraction they feel for one another. It is a world where love is often secondary to the strategic acquisition of assets.
While critics generally responded with favor—the film holds a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes—audiences were more divided, giving it a 'C+' grade via CinemaScore. Despite this, the film was a commercial success, grossing $120.8 million worldwide. It remains a unique entry in the Coen filmography, blending their signature oddball sensibilities with the glossy, fast-paced energy of a classic Hollywood screwball comedy, complete with a soundtrack featuring artists ranging from Elvis Presley to Édith Piaf.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Intolerable Cruelty
- Also: Wikidata — Intolerable Cruelty · CC0
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