Laramie Movie Scope:
O Brother Where Art Thou?

by Robert Roten, Film Critic

March 22, 2001 -- The writer-director brothers, Joel and Ethan Coen have turned out an impressive body of work in the past few years, including my pick for best film of 1996, "Fargo." Their latest effort is a lighter comedy, "O Brother Where Art Thou?" It is along the lines of their earlier comedies, "Raising Arizona," and "The Hudsucker Proxy." It is not quite as enigmatic or convoluted as "The Big Lebowski."

Very loosely based on "The Odyssey" it tells the funny story of three escaped convicts looking for a buried treasure in the South during the 1930s. The convict leader is Ulysses Everett McGill (played by George Clooney of "Three Kings"), a well-read flim-flam man who was in prison for practicing law without a license. His none-too-bright fellow escapees are Pete (John Turturro of "Cradle Will Rock") and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson of "The Thin Red Line").

To give you a flavor of the lighthearted humor of this film, here's some dialogue from the three main characters:
Pete: "Wait a minute. Who elected you leader of this outfit?"
Ulysses: "Well Pete, I figured it should be the one with the capacity for abstract thought. But if that ain't the consensus view, then hell, let's put it to a vote."
Pete: "Suits me. I'm voting for yours truly." (pointing at himself)
Ulysses: Well I'm voting for yours truly too." (pointing at himself)
Delmar: "Okay, I'm with you fellas."

On their way to search for buried treasure, the group stops into a tiny radio station to record a song with guitar player Tommy Johnson, who has sold his soul to the devil in order to get more talent. When asked why he sold his soul, "I wasn't using it anyway" Tommy explains. The group calls itself the Soggy Bottom Boys. The men are engulfed by a flood, chased by dogs, fights with the Ku Klux Klan, are tempted by sirens, one is turned into a frog and their future is foretold by a blind prophet (Lee Weaver). They also ride with the notorious bank robber George "Babyface" Nelson (Michael Badalucco of "Summer of Sam" and "The Practice" TV show). They also meet up with the most powerful man in the state, Governor Pappy O'Daniel (Charles Durning of "State and Main").

Even though there is a car chase and some close scapes with the law, this really isn't an action movie. It is more of a road movie because all these people just keep moving across the landscape, looking for a better life than the one they left behind. The road movie is an old tradition in Hollywood. It reflects the American fascination with the vast size and diversity of our country and the temptation to run away from problems, the idea that there might be a better place right around the bend. Oh yeah, and the music's not bad either. Blues musician Chris Thomas King plays the movie's souless black guitar player.

Clooney, Turturro and Nelson are all perfect as the lead characters. Their bumbling wide-eyed innocence makes them the least likely bunch of criminals you are ever likely to see. Badalucco is great as the manic-depressive criminal George "Babyface" Nelson. John Goodman of "Coyote Ugly" gives a nice performance as Bible salesman Big Dan Teague. Holly Hunter of "Timecode" has a small role in the film as well. Goodman ("Barton Fink," "The Big Lebowski," "Raising Arizona," "The Hudsucker Proxy") and Hunter ("Raising Arizona") have been in other Coen brothers films before as has Turturro ("Barton Fink," "The Big Lebowski," "Miller's Crossing"). Durning also appeared in "The Hudsucker Proxy." It appears the Coen Brothers, like some other filmmakers such as John Ford and Woody Allen, like to work with a group of actors they are familiar with.

While this film may not have a lot of substance, it sure is a pleasure to watch. It is so amiable, so easy going and there is such a nice pace to it that you will find yourself under its spell in no time. There are some nasty characters in the film and our heroes get outsmarted now and then, but the plot is never twisted too far just to make some politically correct point. It never goes over the top and it never sinks into sloppy sentimentality. It doesn't preach and it doesn't hit below the belt. You never feel like your chain is being yanked for no good reason when you are watching it. In other words, it is sort of the opposite of films like "American Beauty" and "The Piano." It is sublime entertainment. It is a very smooth job of writing and directing by the Coen brothers. This film rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2001 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.   Back to the Laramie Movie Scope index.  

Robert Roten can be reached via e-mail at .