Intolerable Cruelty / The Big Lebowski / O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Intolerable Cruelty:
From Academy Award winners Joel and Ethan Coen, comes this outrageously funny comedy about a man who wins in court and a woman who courts to win. Top divorce attorney Miles Massey (George Clooney – Ocean's Eleven & Solaris) has got it all. Serial gold-digger Marilyn Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones – Chicago & Traffic) wants it all. When Miles falls for the unobtainable Marilyn, a hilarious battle of deceit and cunning ensues, with each one trying to outsmart the other. Underhanded tactics, deceptions and an undeniable attraction escalate as Marilyn and Miles square off in this classic battle of the sexes.
Critic Reviews:
- " Glitz, glamour, comedy and Clooney and [ Catherine] Zeta-Jones. Undeniably the funniest and most romantically funny comedy of the year. " – Debbie Lynn Elias
- " Screwball comedy for older teens and adults. " – Nell Minow
- " Here's an anomaly: a comedy about smart people. " – Richard Corliss
The Big Lebowski:
The Dude, Jeff Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is unemployed and laid-back… until… Victim of mistaken identity, two thugs break into his apartment in the errant belief that they are accosting Jeff Lebowski the Pasadena millionaire. In hope of getting a replacement for his soiled carpet Dude visits his wealthy namesake and, with buddy, ex ‘Nam’ veteran, Walter (John Goodman), he is swept into a Coenesque comedy/thriller of extortion, embezzlement, sex and dope. It takes guys as simple as the Dude and Walter to make a story this complicated… And they'd really rather be bowling.
Critic Reviews:
- " A frantic mish-mash of comedy, mystery, and cinematic trickery that, while it can be overwhelming at first glance, is one of the most unique and entertaining films in a generation. " – Brent McKnight
- " For those of you who forgot how good Bridges was in The Fisher King, here is a reminder. As the gung-ho Nam veteran, Goodman's tenacious, tightly coiled demeanor is smartly explosive and very funny. " – Duane Byrge
- " “The Big Lebowski” is easy to love and rewarding to obsess over, but for me, it's more than just a fun movie to quote; it's a comforting memory generator, and when I watch it, if I squint, I can kind of see my dad again. " – Asia Frey
O Brother, Where Art Thou?:
Disenchanted with the daily drudge of crushing rocks on a prison farm in Mississippi, the dapper, silver-tongued Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney, The Perfect Storm) busts loose. Except he's still shackled to his two chain-mates from the chain gang – bad-tempered Pete (John Turturro, Summer Of Sam) and sweet, dimwitted Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson, Hamlet). With nothing to lose and buried loot to regain – before it's lost forever in a flood – the three embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this hilarious offbeat road picture. Populated with strange characters, including a blind prophet, sexy sirens and a one-eyed Bible salesman (John Goodman, Coyote Ugly), it's an odyssey filled with chases, close calls, near misses and betrayal that will leave you laughing at every outrageous and surprising twist and turn.