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O Brother, Where Art Thou? Customer Reviews (67 - 69 of 87 Reviews)

O Brother, It's Good
Joel and Ethan Coen seem incapable of making a film that isn't at least interesting, and often their movies are absolutely delightful. I think everyone has their favorites (mine are "Fargo" and "Raising Arizona"), but this film touched a few cultural nerves that are infrequently accessed.

For one thing, the soundtrack features a brilliant collection of grass-roots and Americana music - acoustic blues and jazz and bluegrass. Alison Krauss, already a novelty around Nashville as a platinum-selling bluegrass artist, received a thunderbolt of a boost to her career by supplying several tunes and vocal parts to the soundtrack (for example singing the Heavenly "Down to the River to Pray" during the baptism scene and the seductive voice of one of the sirens later on). Dan Tyminski, one of the musicians from Alison's band, Union Station, supplies the singing voice of George Clooney and Dan Tyminski's "Man of Constant Sorrow" became even MORE of a novelty around Nashville as it won one Country Music Award after another without the benefit of any significant radio play.

The script is VERY loosely based on Homer's Odyssey and knowing that allows the moderately educated a few hearty chuckles recognizing, for example, that John Goodman's Eye-Patched Bible Salesman represents the Cyclops.

George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson deliver the Coen's rib-tickling dialogue with gusto. I don't know why it's so entertaining to watch characters who are clueless, or at least more clueless than they think they are, but to see three bravura performances as chain-gang refugee dunces is a treat here.

In a typical early sequence our trio has just made their break from the chain-gang and Clooney's Everett begins taking charge. Turturro's Pete questions him:

"Wait a minute. Who elected you leader of this outfit?"

Everette responds "Well, Pete, I figured it should be the one with the capacity for abstract thought. But if that ain't the consensus, then hell, let's put it to a vote."

"Suits me", says Pete. "I'm voting for yours truly."

"Well, I'm voting for yours truly too" replies Everett, not backing down.

Pete and Everett turn to their slightly denser partner Delmar to break the deadlocked vote.

He ponders it thoughtfully."Okay.... I'm with you fellers".

Classic Coen Brothers.
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One tidbit Alison Krauss provides on the "Alison Krauss and Union Station LIVE DVD": Dan Tyminski, upon learning that he was going to be providing the singing voice for George Clooney, called his wife to give her the exciting news.

"Honey! They're making a movie musical and when George Clooney sings the audience will be seeing him, but MY voice will be coming out of his mouth!"

"Oh Dan", Mrs. Tyminski replied. "That's my fantasy!"

Wildly Entertaining and Very Funny
The story is set in Mississippi during the Great Depression. The silver tongued Everett McGill ( George Clooney)busts loose from a prison farm. However, he is still shackled to his two chain-mates from the chain gang - the bad tempered Pete ( John Turturo)and the sweet and dimwitted Delmar ( Tim Blake Nelson). With nothing else to lose, the trio sets off in search of buried treasure that will help them all start new lives. Everett claims that he stole and buried over one million dollars in cash. The only problem is that they only have four days to find it before it is lost forever at the bottom of a reservoir. But as luck would have it, they keep running into strange situations, and even stranger people. The trio steals a car, and eventually pick up a guitar playing hitchiker. To make some extra money, they stop at a radio station and pose as a music group called "The Soggy Bottom Boys". The record that they cut soon becomes the hottest record in the reigon. However, the adventure does not stop there, as they encounter many more strange characters that include : a blind prophet, a bank robber ( Michael Badalucco), a crooked one-eyed bible salesman ( John Goodman), and Everet's ex-wife ( Holly Hunter)who is about to get re-married. This crazy adventure filled with close calls, near misses, and betrayals will have you laughing every step of the way.

Oh man, what an oustanding film. This film succeeds on so many levels. The first is the story itself. Watching the three run into one thing after the next will keep you entertained for the entire film. Next, is the amazing cast. George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturo are all spectacular in their roles. All three are extremely different, but will make you laugh the same. The supporting cast is quite good as well as features performances by Holly Hunter, Michael Badalucco, John Goodman, and Charles Durning. But perhaps the best thing about the film is the amazing soundtrack. It features a wide variety of different artists and each song is spectacular. Dan Tyminksi provides the singing voice for George Clooney on "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow". This is the Soggy Bottom Boys song that serves as a template for the bluegrass laden soundtrack that also features : Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, The Whites, John Hartford, The Cox Family and Gillian Welch.

The acting is spectacular, the music is amazing, the story is extremely well rounded, and it is down right hillarious. The DVD is outstanding. You not only get great picture and sound quality, but outstanding extras as well. The DVD offers a behind the scenes featurette, the " I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow" music video, and so much more. Definately a must own

The Coen Brothers are Geniuses!
O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? was one of the best films I saw all year. Ethan and Joel Coen(FARGO, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, RAISING ARIZONA) have written a movie using the ancient story line to The Odyssey and turned it into the tale of a man's determination to escape prison and stop his wife from re-marrying. The sheer brilliance of this movie deserves an applause. Set in the Depression Era, this comedy/musical(if you will) begins with Everett, Pete, and Delmar escaping off the chain gang. Everett has told them that he has buried 1.2 million dollars near his home, and they must get to it before the land is made into a river. Thus begins this amazing movie with countless allusions to The Odyssey. The blind prophet from the story becomes the blind railway man who tells the men they will go on a quest. Then, the men are seduced by three women singing, the Sirens of course. And who can forget the one-eyed man Big Dan Teague showing the ruthlessness of the Cyclops? All in all, this movie's great script(nominated for an Oscar) and awesome performances make this movie great fun. George Clooney is incredible as Everett, and this is the role which won him the Golden Globe award for Best Actor, beating out such stars as Mel Gibson, Robert Deniro, John Cusack, and Jim Carrey. John Turturro is a chameleon, a brilliant character actor and great in this movie as Pete. One of the best played roles is that of Delmar, played by Tim Blake Nelson. He is a perfect comic relief character and I feel the most likeable of the three. In the supporting areas, John Goodman rocks as Big Dan Teague, and he can now be called somewhat of a Coen Brothers regular, having been in THE BIG LEBOWSKI and RAISING ARIZONA. Holly Hunter, also a Raising Arizona alum plays a perfect and motherly Penny, Everett's wife. Charles Durning is a fiery and strong as Guv'nor Pappy O'Daniel, as are Chris Thomas King and The Practice's Michael Badalucco. Wayne Duvall is very good as the rival Homer Stokes. The really wonderful part of this movie is the music. In a way, this comedy is somewhat like a musical, the music carrying the men from one place to another, and I especially love the scenes in which the three men and their accomp..uhh, accompanist(It's a joke from the movie, see it, and you'll get it) Tommy roll into "Man of Constant Sorrow." An awesome Coen Brothers Flick!

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