Release Date:
Friday, December 22, 2000
Yes, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is loosely based on Homers Odyssey. Every critic will try to impress you with the fact that they know this, but guess what? The movie begins with The Odysseys opening line and the Coens even give Homer story credit. Great detective work, guys. But dont worry if the only thing you remember from English class was that the story had something to do with Kirk Douglas on a boatO Brother borrows lightly from the epic poem while also incorporating American folktales and myths. Oh, and its funny.
The movie follows the exploits of three escaped cons in Depression-era Mississippi. Their leader is Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), a motormouthed moron with a penchant for Dapper Dan pomade. His counterparts are Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson), guys who dont have two brain cells to rub together for warmth. Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest encounter all sorts of oddities on their way to stop Everetts wife (Holly Hunter) from remarrying. This is not a joke-a-minute gagfest, but a slow and deliberately deadpan running gag from the masters of this art form: The Coen Brothers (Fargo, Raising Arizona). O Brother not only boasts great performances (from the leads, but also supporting turns from John Goodman and Charles Durning), but also a foot-tapping soundtrack and some amazing photography.
The movie follows the exploits of three escaped cons in Depression-era Mississippi. Their leader is Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), a motormouthed moron with a penchant for Dapper Dan pomade. His counterparts are Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson), guys who dont have two brain cells to rub together for warmth. Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest encounter all sorts of oddities on their way to stop Everetts wife (Holly Hunter) from remarrying. This is not a joke-a-minute gagfest, but a slow and deliberately deadpan running gag from the masters of this art form: The Coen Brothers (Fargo, Raising Arizona). O Brother not only boasts great performances (from the leads, but also supporting turns from John Goodman and Charles Durning), but also a foot-tapping soundtrack and some amazing photography.