 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Stars: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter
Director: Joel Coen
Rated: PG-13
Score: 9/10 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buy the Soundtrack |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"How's ma' hair?" |
|
|
|
|
|
| Main Attraction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Box Office |
|
|
|
|
|
| The Rest of It |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When I first heard about this movie I thought, "Oh great, a musical that stars George Clooney, just what I want to see." So, despite all the rave reviews from critics, I avoided it (shamefully!) until it hit video. But I am the first to admit that this is one of those special films that defies all logic I suppose. It's irresistable.
Based on Homer's "The Odyssey", it's an interpretive vision that takes place in rural Mississippi back in the Depression era. Clooney plays Ulysses "Everett" McGill, a good ol' boy who along with his buddies Delmar and Pete, just escaped from a chain gang. They're on a journey to find some hidden treasure that Everett has put in their heads. But as an old man at the beginning of their journey said, the treasure they seek shall not be the one that they find. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
While on the road they run into Everett's wife (Hunter) and 7 daughters, who is planning on marrying another man because he's "bonafide". Well he just won't have that. They meet up with a crooked politician and three beautiful singing sirens who seduce them. Pete dissapears and Delmar is sure he was turned into a toad...so he carries the toad along with them. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the heart of this movie is Bluegrass music, something we don't hear these days on the radio let alone in movies. The soundtrack became a best-seller and bluegrass became the newly discovered oldies music with it's wonderful collection. And how well it suits this films, from the opening scene of the chain gang singing (taken from an actual recording of one) to the toe-tapping "Man of Constant Sorrow". One scene has some Southern Baptists going to the river to cleanse their sins and be saved. As they sing, Delmar is so captivated that he too wants to be forgiven and start with a clean slate. Without the music in some of the sequences, it wouldn't hold as much feeling and depth.
Not to forget that for a few extra bucks they team up with a blues guitarist to make a recording of a song - which later - becomes such a huge word of mouth hit without their even realizing it. And the soggy bottom boys were born.
The KKK is shown as corrupt and yet ridiculous. The dialogue between characters often sounds a mix between backwoods ignorant and insightfully educated. The cinematography is a faded color so the film feels like your looking into the past. The wry humor and good timing make it even more hillarious by the fact that the delivery is almost not meant to be funny but serious. Like Everett repeating "We're in a tight spot!" in the first half when the law catches up with them. And his neverending love of Dapper Dan hair jelly. The style of acting here is very reminiscent of old time movies with Clark Gable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What's great about this film is that regardless of your taste, it's likely to appeal to a large demographic. You don't have to like bluegrass, musical scenes in films or even George Clooney. It's a journey filled with obsticals and temptations, but in the end sometimes the treasure you seek is not the same one as you find. But this one is a real gem. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|