First in our series of rom-coms and romantic movies!

This week, we discuss Intolerable Cruelty, a 2003 American romantic comedy directed, co-written and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film stars George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Geoffrey Rush, Cedric the Entertainer, Edward Herrmann, Paul Adelstein, Richard Jenkins, and Billy Bob Thornton.

When high-profile divorce lawyer Miles Massey, famed for his iron-clad prenup, comes head-to-head with gold-digger Marylin, soon the sparks start to fly between them.

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Topics include:

00:00 Introduction

04:01 Silliness and emotion weight

05:20 Silliness and genre

07:08 Genre Bending: Un-coupling romance and comedy in a comedic romance

08:41 Public declaration of love (blehhh)

11:04 The world of rom-coms is absurd, which matches Coen Brothers style

14:39 Tim Burton vs. Coen Brothers: A Style Comparison

18:49 Absurdity, no sentimentality, humor

24:58 Character Depth and Uniqueness

29:05 This movie still has a typical take on love

30:51 Defining Romance in Film

38:25 Too Silly or Just Silly Enough: A Debate

44:37 The asthmatic hit man and lawyers spinning stories

47:36 The Quest for Satisfaction and Connection

54:01 Rethinking romance when you're married with kids in the suburbs

56:00 Financial Dynamics in Relationships

59:50 Evaluating the Movie Experience

01:01:29 Future Movie Selections

01:02:04 Outro