O Brother, Where Art Thou? Review
Movie Poster
Successful Portrayal of Humor in Storycraft
The Coen brothers can do no wrong. They write, direct and produce quality movies that bring a sharp wit and edge to the American story. To list just a few: Barton Fink, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men.
The film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is so great on so many levels, that you're going need to sit down a minute to find out why. Just like listening to an old storyteller, you need to hear the tale. What I love about this movie is how it captures the grace and dignity that even the most downtrodden carry inside.
1 Storytelling
This is a tale of three run-away prisoners on a quest for freedom and treasure in a country that's going through hard times. Along the way they meet a guitar player and form a band that helps them sidestep troubles with the law.
2 Classical reference
This story loosely references Homer's The Odyssey. For example, characters you run into are the Blind Seer, the Cyclops and the Sirens. The lead character's first name is Ulysses Everett. He's a guy who carries a penchant for long talk and oration.
3 True to life
This film has real situations that were broiling in the South during the depression era.
4 Scriptwriting
The writing carries light touches of character idiosyncrasies. They speak in that turn of dialog that gets you laughing the first time and appreciating it even more the second time. There are priceless lines throughout. Look up some quotes from the movie and enjoy.
5 Great actors.
I got the greatest respect for George Clooney after seeing him in this movie. Apparently, he not only plays handsome leads, he can be a quirky character getting into all kinds of scrapes and carry it extremely well. Others: John Turturro, John Goodman, Holly Hunter.
What I really enjoy is the combination of situations mixed with the mythical, the superstition, the prejudice and the plight of The Everyman's human condition. It never gets bogged down, the sometimes light-hearted antics of the three runaway prisoners keeps you engaged and rooting for them.
The final gem is the music, all handpicked mostly from this era.
The key to this film is you don't have to be a fan of Ulysses or depression era stories or old-timey folk music. You can just enjoy the ride!
Reviewed by author. All rights reserved.
O' Brother, Where Art Thou? - Movie
Soggy Bottom Boys
