Genre: Romantic Comedy
Director: Joel Coen
Main Cast: George Clooney,Catherine Zeta-Jones,Paul Adelstein,Billy Bob Thornton, Geoffrey Rush
Plot Summary:
Miles Massey (George Clooney) is an attorney who specializes in divorce settlements, or more correctly, specializes in ensuring that his clients get to keep the assets! No matter which partner is at fault, smooth-talking Massey manages to protect his clients from being taken to the cleaners. His latest client, Rexroth, is a multi-millionaire who has been caught fooling around. Against the odds, Massey sets himself the challenge of making sure Rexroth's wife gets nothing from the divorce settlement. Rexroth's beautiful wife, Marylin (Catherine Zeta-Jones) won't give up without a fight. Across the negotiating table, a few sultry looks from Marylin catch the attention of Miles Massey...
Review:
There is a cynical sense of humor running through this romantic comedy which makes it a little different from the usual over-sentimental movies of its kind. With Joel Coen as director and Ethan Coen as one of the screenwriters there would have to be, as with many of their movies, a little cynicism. When it comes to per-nuptial agreements and divorce settlements there is little trust. The first rule of marriage for the wealthier partner is to protect your assets and when it comes to divorce settlements, 'compromise' and 'fairness' are words that should never be uttered. Get yourself a good attorney!
The humour is very witty in parts and in other parts it has a slapstick element. This makes the movie a little uneven. There are also some dull moments where the humour and story lag a little. Nonetheless, it is the very funny part in this imperfect movie that make it worthwhile.
Two things going for this movie are George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones; names that bring a bit of Hollywood glamour and sparkle. George Clooney has a bigger role and gets most of the funnier parts and lines. Catherine Zeta-Jones is radiant. She plays, Marylin Rexroth, the scorned wife and she is sultry and flirtatious, yet cold and calculating. In spite of their distrust of each other, Marylin and Miles are attracted to each other but it is almost a profession fascination as the battle of wits starts.
Pic: Courtesy : Wikipedia.org