Synopses & Reviews
The new picture from Ethan Coen and Joel Coen draws inspiration from the epic poetry of Homer and the classic comedy of Preston Sturges. A delicious blend of adventure, humour, and heartfelt emotion,
O Brother, Where Art Thou? takes its title from Sturges's
Sullivan's Travels, and proceeds to put a unique modern-day spin on
The Odyssey.
Set in the American "Deep South" during the Depression era, the film's heroes are three escapees from a Mississippi prison chain-gang: raffish Everett Ulysses McGill (George Clooney), sweet and simple Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson), and permanently angry Pete (John Turturro). Still in shackles, but with nothing to lose, the threesome encounter a hitchhiker called Tommy Johnson (Chris Thomas King), who claims to have sold his soul to the devil in order to master the blues guitar. Together, the outlaws cut a bluegrass record, which becomes a huge hit. But they have precious little time to savour success, and must press on across swampy terrain, pursued by the cunning and mysterious lawman Sheriff Cooley (Daniel von Bargen), who is bent on bringing them back to the prison farm.
This is an incredible odyssey, littered with challenges, obstacles, and colourful characters such as Big Dan Teague (John Goodman). Like Homeric heroes, the three convicts long for their homes: siren calls must be resisted, for awaiting Everett is his estranged wife Penny (Holly Hunter)...
Review
"The Brothers Coen have an uncanny ability to up the quirky cinematic ante with each new project....This edition emphasizes the text and offers very little in the way of camera shots, angles, and points of view. The Coens' ever-broadening fan base should make this popular in all film collections." Library Journal
Synopsis
From the creators of Fargo comes the screenplay of their newest film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, based on Homer's Odyssey and starring George Clooney. Photos.
Synopsis
Joel and Ethan Coen are among America's best-loved and most lauded independent filmmakers. With their latest work,
O Brother, Where Art Though?, The Oscar-winning team returns to the period-piece films of their earlier career (
Miller's Crossing,
Barton Fink,
The Hudsucker Proxy) and showcase once-again their pitch-perfect ear for hilarious and outrageous dialogue, as well as their penchant for the fantastic.
Based on Homer's Odyssey, the movie stars George Clooney as Ulysses Everett McGill, along with Coen-mainstay John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson as fugitives from a chain gang who embark on a mystical and musical journey through 1930s Mississippi. History and allegory are expertly entwined as, along the way, the three escapees encounter a blind prophet, are tempted by sirens, do battle with a Cyclops (in the form of a one-eyed Klansman), fall in with George "Baby Face" Nelson on a bank heist, and cut a blues record with a young guitar prodigy who bears a striking resemblance to the real-life Robert Johnson.
About the Author
Joel and Ethan Coen have made eight critically-acclaimed feature films together. The recipients of numerous awards, they received an Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1997 for
Fargo.