Review of O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) by Peter H — 20 Jun 2011

Joel and Ethan Coen's O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? [2000]: Before I begin to start with this Coen Brothers film in this review I must first address where the title of the film came from. In the year 1941 a Preston Sturges comedy film came out titled SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS which was all about the title character John Sullivan a producer of dumb Hollywood comedy's who wanted to make a serious film about everyday people called O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? So to better understand the everyday everyman Sullivan disguises himself as a hobo and travels the country. So in a way that films title character embarks upon an Odyssey, so the Coen's in their style of filmmaking decide to blend that idea of that fake film in SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS with the Odyssey by Homer set in the depression era Mississippi.

The result is a quirky adaptation of a widely known Classic that is nothing more than an alright film, so in the fourth instalment of my exploration of the films of the Coen Brothers today's instalment looks at the first of the Coen's many films made in the first decade of the 21st century the 2000 comedy O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?

Day Four O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? [2000]: In a comedy that is a mix of the unique comedic styles of The Coen's meets an adaptation Homer's THE ODYSSEY the result must be the basis of a solid and good film, right? Yes, but "O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?" is nothing short of being a dirt average film. That isn't necessarily a bad thing it just makes things about the film seem decent but nothing that memorable. In a much shorter review that yesterdays review of FARGO I'm just going to give my basic thoughts on a film that doesn't feel that special after the end credits role.

THE PLOTLINE.

Set in the depression era Mississippi and as an adaptation of the Odyssey, the plot sees chain gang convict Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) and his two pals Pete and Delmar escape from their gang and are on the run for the buried loot at Ulysses cabin. The catch with the new reservoir which is going to flood the grounds were the cabin stands in a few days time, nothing is going to stop the gang even if it means helping a struggling Black Musician hit the big time, aiding a bank robber on the run, falling prey to both a group of sirens and a one Eyed Bible Salesman (John Goodman), gate crashing a Ku Klux Klan rally all the while trying to avoid the pose of lawmen after them.

THE ACTING, SCRIPTING, DIRECTION, AND CINEMA- PHOTOGRAPHY.

Overall the acting in this film is solid and good (much like everything else in this film which is ALWAYS a blessing in my experience). George Clooney comes across in his typical charming fashion while playing a charming con obsessed with hair care product. The rest of the cast deliver good performances in this film which is good for a comedy.

As for the Scripting, Direction, and Cinema- Photography much the same can be said about the acting, it's good and stable.

The Coen's as writer- directors do deserve the title of auteur filmmakers as they both write the script and direct the picture which makes them the supreme authors of the movie. This time around I felt although this is a Coen film it's never the less average and feels like the pair were trying to play it safe after their previous film the now Cult Classic THE BIG LEBOWSKI had originally failed to impress most critics. The cinema-photography is decent with each shot looking neat, average and basic and much like everything else in this film falls into the category of average.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Aside for constantly calling this film Average in this review might to a certain point sound like I'm criticising a decent piece of escapist entertainment. Don't get me wrong I like the film for what it's worth but considering this is a Coen Brothers film just falls short of how high they set the bar for themselves as filmmaker. Look I'm well aware it's extremely hard for even the greatest filmmaker to outdo their previous films that a few are celebrated as masterpieces, and since this review has just come of the back of my review for FARGO maybe I had just set my sights WAY to high with this one. Take or leave it "O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?" is a solid and good film but sadly it falls way too short of being a truly great film. So in conclusion to this review my rating for this film is a solid 60%.