Intolerable Cruelty

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Whether you have seen many movies or just a few, you've got to give credit to the Coen's for bringing at least some wicked humor to movies these days then the expected funny gags of today. Intolerable Cruelty may not become one of their most celebrated movies but I liked it a lot because it brings the best out of George Clooney as beauty queen Catherine Zeta-Jones and has some moments that inspired also Carter Burwell to bring out the best of his romantic soul. The film score may not be also Burwell's best but there is a moment where his theme receives a strange kind of twist. When Miles changes his every footnote of his way of business thinking to explain that love is good, Burwell's theme forms a unique fanfare only Burwell can do. It made effect in the film and alone, its the strange double feeling of trumpets and overlapping strings bringing a side of perhaps dark humor but also light epic quality what made the scene very well for a score fan. And come to think of it, the rest of the score is good to enjoy too which makes the album that mixes songs and score through each other rather enjoyable, and I have to say it doesn't matter if you first listen to the songs and then the score or simply follow the order, its the quality of both that guarantees simply a listening experience that is worthy of a moment of your afternoon. The songs are in the line of the movie, generally based by the mood of either Burwell's score or the mood of the film, and most are classics and most importantly well chosen songs for the genre, Simon and Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, Edith Piaf or the instrumental piece of Chuck Mangione (which is quite long considering the 58 seconds of Colin Linden), they all bring a twist and a feel to the album that most song albums forget to bring. While not a thing to return to over and over, it simply clicks and that makes the album at least on song album work.

As a score album, perhaps more could have been included but the majority of the most important material is present (except the courtroom scene of comedy wild extravaganza). Its then also divided into 2 parts, the more bouncy mambo and light wild music and the more romantic music with its biggest asset, the love theme. The bouncy music is actually rather funny and receives a growing fun-o-excellence rating in 'Hanky Panky Choo Choo' that shows Burwell at his non Burwell's. Also the light sneaking and at times light action paced 'No More Working' is the same a bit, but it shows the main theme in a light action statement and is therefore fun too. But the romantic music has got the theme that Burwell very effectively and beautifully has chosen for this film. The soft string setting in which it is presented in 'You Fascinate Me', the Celtic bagpipe that makes the theme transform to its string version in 'Heather 2 Honeymoon', the growing and epic finale qualities it has in 'Love is Good' and the finale "all is well" feel that surrounds the theme in 'Fully Exposed', it all works. In fact perhaps a feeling in me says, its one of the better Burwell scores because his more dark settings work well as mood setters and naturally for the genre of the films, but this is lightly different, just as the film for the Coen's. It shows that the three bring perhaps the best out of each other and it inspires them to bring more diversity then ever before. Whatever you feel about the film, its fun light romantic material with twists, whatever you experience from the music, its different Burwell material with a theme that works great on film, great on album. Perhaps forgotten a bit but with charm aplenty. Ahh, Intolerable Cruelty is good.

Score: ***1/2
Songs: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Boxer: Simon and Garfunkel (5.09)

2. Intolerable Mambo (1.41)

3. Suspicious Minds: Elvis Pressly (4.32)

4. Hanky Panky Choo Choo (2.07) Excellent Track

5. Don't Cry Out Loud: Melissa Manchester (3.48)

6. Feels So Good: Chuck Mangione (9.41)

7. You Fascinate Me (1.40)

8. April Come She Will: Colin Linden (0.58)

9. Heather 2 Honeymoon (1.39)

10. If I Only Knew: Tom Jones (4.18)

11. Love Is Good (3.26) Excellent Track

12. Non Je Ne Regret Rien: Edith Piaf (2.20)

13. No More Working (3.00)

14. Fully Exposed (1.46)

15. Glory Of Love: Big Bill Broonzy (2.20)

16. The Boxer: Colin Linden (2.56)

Total Length: 51.37

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=== Link to Composer Site: Carter Burwell ===