The Coen Brothers followed their two masterpieces Fargo and The Big Lebowski with this oddball road movie that is almost completely without a plot, yet somehow extremely engaging. The story is a simple one; Ulysses Everett McGill has learned his wife is about to remarry and he wants to return home to stop her. Unfortunately he is part of a prison chain gang. His only option for escape is to take his chain mates Delmar and Pete along. That premise sets up a meandering road movie, loosely (very loosely) based on Homer's The Odyssey.
Just like the Odyssey the film is episodic in nature. The three men encounter trouble and adventure along the way. They meet a blind fortune teller, Baby Face Nelson, a one-eyed bible salesman played with gusto by John Goodman and in one of the most entertaining segments they stumble into a Klu Klux Klan meeting. They unknowingly record a hit record, stumble across a political campaign and encounter a young black man who has claims to have sold his soul to the devil. And all the while they are being pursued by law man who eerily resembles the young man's description of Satan.
The film opens with the three men running across a field, George Clooney is Ulysses, John Turturro is Pete and Tim Blake Nelson is Delmar. When the three men attempt to board a moving freight train you instantly realize this film is going to be a flat out comedy.
This was Clooney's first attempt at comedy and his portrayal of Ulysses, a not so bright, fast talking con man, is classic. O Brother, Where Art Thou is also the first film to have it's entire post production work done digitally on a computer. The films dust bowl look and sepia tones were all achieved after filming was completed. This was a bold move by the Coens and cinematographer Richard Deakins. The results were groundbreaking. Until then digital work was used on films with multiple special effects, but the Coens showed you could use the computer to enhance the over all look of a film. Overnight the process of using chemicals in post production to match film stock and achieve a particular look to a movie was over.
Besides being a tribute to The Odyssey, the film is also a salute to bluegrass music of the period. The film was credited with reviving interest in folk and bluegrass music. The soundtrack from the film won a Grammy in 2001 for Album of the Year.
Not every joke hits the mark, the Coen Brothers frequently over reach and the film meanders a bit, but it is a highly entertaining journey from beginning to end.
At The Movie House rating ***
1 comment:
It seems you thoroughly enjoyed every aspec tof this film but your 3 star review doesn;t seem to represent same. I sensed a disconnect as I was definetely expecting a 3.5 based on what i read...I am not disagreeing with either your review or the rating, just that the review seems to signify a better movie than the stars...As you have become aware, I write a blog, on which I review your reviews
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