This is the new one from the Coen Brothers and starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and Frances McDormand.

It is the Coen Brothers version of a farce, and it is very funny and extremely well plotted. Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) has a drink problem and an unfaithful stuck up wife, he has also just been sacked from the CIA, with nothing to lose he decides to write his memoirs. Harry (George Clooney) is a serial womaniser and pervert who is sleeping with Osbourne’s wife, amongst other ladies he trawls and picks up on the internet. One of these other ladies’ is Linda (Frances McDormand), sad and lonely she is desperately unhappy with her appearance, which is compounded by the fact that she works in a gym full of buff people. She blind dates via the internet and dreams of having plastic surgery in the vain hope that it will help her meet Mr. Right, someone like George Clooney. The character’s lives are all inexplicably entwined, but things really come to a head when Osbourne’s memoirs are found in the locker room of the gym and Linda and her dim witted gym worker buddy - Chad (Pitt) hatch a plan to make some money.

If you are a fan of the Coen’s work then there is no doubt in my mind that you will enjoy this addition to their cannon. If you are not familiar with their work, then this is as good a picture as any to start your acquaintance.

er - actually, I thought this was pretty dire apart from the last ten minutes which was brilliant.

each to their own - the Coen's do tend to direct love em or hate em pictures

I like other films of theirs. But they're not always consistent, are they? I don't think this one was very well received generally from the critics. I just thought there was no plot, everyone acting their socks off but there was no connection between the characters.

hmm - I felt that there was almost too much plot, admitedly it all hinged on coincidence, but I loved the way it was meticulously weaved together and how unrelated characters worlds colided. I agree the acting was great.

I don't think that 'everyone acting their socks off' necessarily means it was great, though. No, I just didn't rate this one at all.

<Added>

I think this review of it chimes with what my husband and I thought when we saw it.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UTV0w1RLrDg

A few of my friends would agree with you Jem, I however will have to agree to disagree, I loved it and this review pretty much sums up how I feel -

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=135023

Kris

Yes, I think this review likes exactly what Kermode - and me - don't. "Zany" and famous actors, for whom the parts were specifically written. I don't see how it was plotted to within an inch of its life, though. I'm with Kermode in that suddenlt they got to page 97 or whatever and decided to stop. The last ten minutes were good with the two actors I didn't know - their analysis of what they were doing reminded me of tttttBird and Fortune, and in fact we did wonder whether they'd got that idea from their schtik.