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O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) |
| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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The Coen Brothers' Best Film...
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
Mar 18, 2008
17
of
17 people found this review helpful
The Coen Brothers are a couple of the funniest film makers in Hollywood. You can tell that they were raised good ol' country folks. Joel Coen's directing is organic. He seems to direct only what he needs to and lets the acting take over and grow itself. Ethan Coen is the better screenwriter who brilliantly adapts this story from infamous, "The Odyssey."
The acting is supurb and took a lot of talents to paint something of this magnitude of complexity. No doubt, this is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Many, many of the Civil War re-enacters I am with on re-enactments talk about this film. These type of films are rare since Hollywood has so much of the modern, non-original type of film makers. Even though I truely despise George Clooney, this was his best acting. John Turturoo and Tim Blake Nelson are even funnier than Clooney. But the best thing about Clooney's expressions is his eyebrows, that seem to lift up in amazment when Tommy Johnson picks that guitar like no other has heard. John Goodman makes an excellent, but short appearence as well. And of course an all too familiar Holly Hunter. The acting is right on the money.
The story, although loosely based upon Homer's epic poem, is hard to understand at first. Some people despise this movie because they claim that it makes no sense. But in fact, it makes perfect sense if you think beyond the shallow story and dig into it's symbolism and metaphors. There was also a great deal of foreshadowing just like in the poem. Think of the sheriff that is hunting down the three odd-ball convicts. His glasses are always black and fire is always reflecting off of them. Tommy Johnson himself tells the three that the devil is white with hollow eyes and a mean ol' hound. The devil is who hunted them as they seek the treasure that Ulysses claimed. Even though there was no treasure, he just wanted to get his wife back and daughters back from some slander spoken salesman. Him and among all of the other strange characters play out their alloted part, all giving something important to the story and affects the three on many different levels. Ulysses tries desperatley to cover up his flaws and lack of intelligence in some areas by using a more complex vocabulary and attempts to prove to the other two guys that he is smarter and wiser than they are, but in the end his lies come crashing down upon him and he is forced to go through a harsh trial to get what he seeks.
The only weakness with the film is the portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan whom carries the Confederate Battle Flag of Georgia as its symbol. But this of course put my parents into a rage since Hollywood seems to always be finding ways incriminate the south. But in fact, it is a metaphor that means something different to everyone. But I did think it could've done without this scene. It was offbeat and wasn't needed.
I loved this film. The acting, the directing, the script, the comedy, the visuals, it's meaning, and the best thing about it is the MUSIC! Who on this board has not heard the amazing soundtrack to this film? It surely keeps that old bluegrass country music alive and it should be. "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" is one of the most well known songs of all-time. I listen to it weekly, humming it in my head when I am not. The Academy Awards should've given this film Best Song. But understandably went up for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinemaphotography. Both however did not win and to this day I will never understand the film critics of the Academy Awards. Those who only see the outer parts of this film will probrably fall asleep and rate this film with "F"s. (Familiar reviews on here)
This is THE best Coen Brothers' film. Ranking even higher than Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski. More credit needs to given to those films and I wish that everyone who loves offbeat comedy to see these. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? deserves a place in my "Best Films of All Time" list.
My Rating: A+ Oscar Material
-Jerry Johnston |
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