Rating: Summary: All I Have to Say is Review: Well I don't want Fop, godammit! I'm a Dapper Dan man!
Rating: Summary: Not funny, not entertaining Review: I really thought I was going to like this movie. O' Brother was I wrong. It was sloooooowwwwwww. I don't think I laughed once. -1 stars is what it deserves. Rent it you must but don't buy it.
Rating: Summary: Homer, I hardly knew ye Review: To say Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? is loosely based on Homer's Odyssey is to say the Kentucky Derby is loosely related to the chariot scene in Ben Hur. It's Odysseus, for Cripes sake, not Ulysseus (that's the Roman name for Homer's hero).... There are more allusions to Le Morte D'Arthur than the Odyssey....ie. the 3 in search of the unattainable--just as Galahad, Percival, and Bors searched for the Holy Grail. Here's the key--a movie that is truly based on a myth doesn't have to advertise itself as such.
Rating: Summary: The Coen Brothers did it again... Review: For some reason, I avoided renting this film (now, I think I'll buy it!). I hate to think that I'm swayed by critics, but,in this case, I guess I was. What we have here is a wonderful narrative of three very individual prople, escaping from prison (but "nice guys" so it's OK). Most of their collective motive is greed, but some great bonding ensues, friendships develop (new & old), conflicts happen, etc. Put it in the hands of Joel & Ethan Coen and you have (another) unique blend of movie-making and thought-provoking controlled insanity. I loved this film! What a pleasure to see John Turturro in a somewhat under-control performance. I'm not sure that I've ever heard of Tim Blake Nelson, but he's a brilliant actor (best in the film, I think), truly supporting an incredible performance from George Clooney. The two were a real "pair". Another reason I avoided this film was it's Oscar nomination for screenplay in the "adapted" category (suggesting its basis as Homer's Odyssey!). How presumptuous, I thought. Well,leave it to the Coen's. I don't know any mistake they've ever made in a movie: "Blood Simple", best murder mystery ever, "Raising Arizona", second best comedy ever; "Miller's Crossing", second-best gangster movie ever; and "Fargo", their best "everything" movie. I love the Coen's (though I admit I still don't understand "Barton Fink", though it was a wonderfully scathing comment on the Hollywood movie-making process).There's a continuing, innate sweetness about this film, though it pulls no punches. The Ku Klux Klan is presented as too organized and with political overtones...which may be true, and which may be the Coen's idea to expose this group as heartless and evil as they are (and, especially, were back in the 30's). Tackling some outrageously seriously themes, the Coen's have once again succeeded in making the ugliest of reality seem to be amusing and utterly entertaining. It must be very tough to make light of some of the most horrible moments in history...Mel Brooks did it and so did Benigni; Billy Wilder (Stalag 17) & Stanley Kubrick (Dr. Strangelove). One must admire the creativity & control involved, so as to not offend, present your material and have it accepted. It's called "Entertainment", and the Coen's deliver this up with side-dishes and garnish on the plate.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Plus Review: It doesn't matter to me whether it combines the Odyssey and Wizard of Oz; it was just a great one! Our whole family actually sat together to watch this, and we all loved it. For us, it was a screamer, with one scene skillfully leading to the next crack-up. I mean, I was in stitches. We lived in South Carolina for eight years and loved the culture and people. But hey, somebody did their homework! Loved the radio station. The soundtracks were excellent, and George Clooney sings? All right! If this was a satire, "they done good!" Helps me to laugh a little at real life.
Rating: Summary: Much more than meets the eye Review: This film is a depiction of the plodding persistence of human wants, needs and temperence in their pursuit, manifest within an American culture as permeated by insidious commercialism, political deceit and pretention as it is melodious, colourful, and corrigible. All the fundamental elements and instutitions of the contempory American experience are on exhibit in Mississippi in the 1920s. This film is an invaluable contribution to the Ethan and Joel Cohen lexicon of American culture. And damn is it funny.
Rating: Summary: It's quirky and fabulous Review: It's offbeat and wonderful! The music is to die for, I can't turn the cd off. George Clooney at his absolute best. Clooney is a natural ham when lypsynching, you would swear he was singing. And even if you don't like folk/bluegrass music, you will love it when the film is over. "Man of constant sorrow" is a wonderful song, and if you are around 50 you will recognize it from the sixties when it was done at a slower tempo by folk artists. Scenery is breathtaking in the film. John Tuturro is a hoot and so is Tim Blake-Nelson. What a voice he's got. I always love Holly Hunter in everything and John Goodman is perfect as the conman/bible salesman. I want to watch it over and over to see what I missed the first time. The Coen brothers have done it again. I think the film will be a sleeper and soon develop a mass audience, once the word gets out.
Rating: Summary: Great Movie Review: O Brother Where Art Thou is one of those films you'll love or hate. I recomend it. You might love it,youmight think it's the stupidest thing ever. You know that with the Coen brothers this will be wierd. I strongly recommend it if you've read the Oddessy. Just one warning, this is a comedy that you won't die laughing in.
Rating: Summary: Terrific, terrific entertainment Review: O Brother, Where Art Thou is a lot of entertainment packed into a couple hours. Its humor makes you chuckle to yourself more than laugh out loud, but then the Coens don't appear to me to be trying to make you laugh out loud. The acting by Clooney, Turturo, Nelson, Goodman, Durning, etc. is spot-on to the mood of the movie -- quirky but not at all absurd or overdone. And the music is fantastic throughout the film, especially in Dolby Digital or DTS.Buy this one, you'll want to watch it more than once. It's wonderfully entertaining.
Rating: Summary: Oh Brother! Review: I found this movie inspiring, humerous and greatly entertaining. Clooney transforms himself into his character incredibly well and provides his audience with a superb performance, as do the other actors. The movie is rich with symbolic meaning and is moving at times. I recommend it highly.
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