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O Brother, Where Art Thou? Customer Reviews (19 - 21 of 87 Reviews)

Childhood comes to life
The characters and setting of this movie brought back memories of my childhood. I believe that I knew people that would have fit right into the story line. A simple life where a man was only as good as his word.

"Damn! We're in a tight spot!"
I really love this movie and it would be absolutely perfect if not for its occasional lags in interest, especially during the space in which the two convicts lose their friend to the Sirens. But, I'm jumping ahead...let's get to the review.

The opening sequence is a great musical experience which begins with a 1930's singing chain gang, voiced by James Carter and the Prisoners (found on your best Blues collections.) That goes straight to "Big Rock Cany Mountain," a bluegrass favorite, as we cut to Pete, Delmar and Everett hauling ass through a field, having escaped the gang and are searching for freedom. Amazing way to open the credits.

Once the boys are on their way, we get to meet them. Everett, played by Clooney, is a know-it-all with an obvious education and a vain care for his hair. Pete is an angry country boy who loves conflict - John Turturro is great in this part. Delmar is their sometimes innocent, always simple-minded end to the trio. Everett has talked the other two into escaping with him to find the treasure he stole, buried, and was sent to jail for.

This is a sometimes loose adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey." The Cohen Brothers have admitted to never reading the book but they seem to have really studied the cliff notes front to back. If you look closely, you can find every piece of the film's inside to the poem. For instance:

The prisoners find a blind railpusher who tells their future just as Odysseus was told his by Tiresius.

Everett's first name Ulysees is Roman for the Greek Odysseus.

The Sheriff plays the part of the Devil. But, I think, the GOV candidate is supposed to be Poseiden. THAT IS made thinkable by the fact that the CYCLOPS/John Goodman is his minion.

The trance-like prayer flock that goes to the river to pray are just like the drug-addicted "lotus eaters" that Odysseus has to keep his troop away from.

John Goodman's Dan with the eyepatch is one-half of the "Cyclops." The other half of the Cyclops (which Odysseus outsmarts) is the blind radio announcer that Everett swindles out of extra money.

When Everett goes to find his estranged wife Penny (Odysseus' Penelope), he finds that she has found a suitor. Odysseus finds his wife and family overtaken by many suitors.

Everett gets beaten down by the suitor just as Odysseus gets jumped by many suitors.

It goes on but I won't list them all. What I want to mention the most here is the sterling sountrack. It's got a little blues, a shade of country, but tons of bluegrass that I had no idea I was a fan of until I saw the movie. Great favorites all around, well integrated into the movie. Parts that I loved the most in the film are...

"Damn! We're in a tight spot!" (you'll know what I mean)

The opening.

Tommy the guitar player.

The major-hot Sirens.

Every time the boys sing "Man of Constant Sorrow."

"Angel Band" from the end credits.

It really is one of the Cohen Brothers' best. Check it out if you love literature, imagination and music.

Loved This Movie
This is a great movie and a great soundtrack too. The story was really good and had a few moments that made me laugh and had a few action scenes. Lots of these reviewers can tell what the story is about all I am going to do is tell you to buy this movie because it is well worth your time and money so buy this it is really good.

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