O Brother, Where Art Thou?

  Set in the deep depression South. O Brother, Where Art Thou is an homage to the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer. Joel and Ethan Cohen cite the poem as the main influence of this film, even though they have never even read it. There are many similarities that present themselves throughout the course of this film that shows influences of The Odyssey. We have our Oracle played in the form of a blind negro railroad worker. Our Cyclops in the form of Big Dan Teague (John Goodman) and Everett Mcgill(George Clooney) as Odysseus himself. Everett and his 2 friends, Pete (John Turro) and Delmar(Tim Blake Nelson) escape a prison chain gang and chase after a huge treasure. Throughout their chase for this treasure the gang (Sort of reminiscent of Odysseus's journey) get into many crazy and life threatening situations including meeting bank robbers, sirens, and their own cyclops Big Dan Teague. This film combines classic myths with the pop culture of the time including Tommy Johnson a Robert Johnson knockoff who in classic southern myth speaks of selling his soul to the devil.

  The gang of Everett, Pete, and Delmar have such chemistry together, and throughout the viewing of this film you begin to realize that O Brother is just a road movie and the commeradery that develops through it is genuine. Even though this band of brothers have to be some of the foolish people to ever break out of a chain gang they provide satisfying entertainment with snappy one liners, slapstick humor, and classic Cohen comedy.

  The cinematography of Roger Deakins is reminiscent of old movies from that era. The countryside is rich with different colors of amber, gold, and brown. Deakins manages to show off the Mississippi countryside in all its backwards glory with ranging environments that is sure to please. Everything from the costumes with the inmates in the classic black and white stripes, the ladies in their summer dresses and men in suits and hats all give an accurate sense of the Depression era. Scenes like the Baptism, the Sirens and, the KKK Clan meeting all stand out because of Deakins attention to detail and his fine eye for the Mississippi countryside.

  The music of O Brother, is one of the strongest soundtracks ever put in a film. The bluegrass and country stylings of composer T Bone Burrnett perfectly amplify the setting, story, and characters. The backwoods of Mississippi come to life with old time bluegrass, country, and blues songs taking us to a place we have all heard of the magical South, with it's chain gangs, train hobos, dusty roads, and general stores. Also if you like George Clooney singing then you're in for a treat.

 Is O Brother, Where Art Thou a great movie?

 Yes.

 Is it polished enough, sophisticated enough to be considered a real work of cinematic "art"?

 Sadly not in my opinion.

 O Brother's southern homefried treatment of the Odyssey is a unique take on a classic story. A risk that paid off for The Cohen Brothers. It's southern musings, combined with great cast, and great folk music breathe new life into a dead horse. And takes us on a journey I can guarantee none of us have ever seen before. But great art makes you think, it makes you feel; and this is no different in the film world. Great movies are timeless and unforgettable. The Cohen Brothers take us on an entertaining romp through the south, but once the journey is finished there is nothing to reflect on, or nothing to really remember. Don't get me wrong though, O Brother, is a fantastic film. Beautifully produced, smartly casted, and cleverly written. The regular movie watcher me loves it very much; but the critic me looks pasts its charms to find an incomplete movie with flaws. It is a known fact that some Cohen films are not received well with critics but respond very strongly with the regular movie watcher. This is because the Cohens unique brand of filmmaking is something that entertains more than it makes you think. And there is nothing wrong with that.