Rating: 
Summary: Good music, good themes
Review: I just saw this movie for the first time. The music is, of course, one of the centerpieces of the movie, and it is incredible. If you love bluegrass and folk music, you will not be dissatisfied with the supply in this movie.I also enjoyed the portrayal of human nature, especially in connection with Christianity. Although the salvation and subsequent baptism of two of the main characters was admittedly quite shallow, the foolishness and hypocrisy of the third character was clearly shown, as in the end he winds up praying for a miracle, receives it, and then attributes it to physical forces apart from God's control. This is certainly a foolish action by the character, but the Coen brothers expressed it as foolishness, for which I am grateful. There are drawbacks, however. Since the movie is based on Homer's epic, the Odyssey, the producers had to insert a scene with the famous Sirens. They are by the water in skimpy, wet clothing, and seduce the three men. I would recommend fast-forwarding through this part. Also various unbiblical assumptions about the family and women are assumed in the actions of some of the characters, but they are really quite laughable, and I think the movie is still worth watching despite them.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved the theatrical release, but...
Review: ... whoever produced the DVD fixed somethin' that weren't broke by deleting the Welch/Krauss rendition of "I'll fly away", that hair-raisin' duet with full bluegrass backup that got everybody all a-lather. They dubbed in some generic back-porch ensemble instead, and my ears near fell off from surprise. The pinch-hit group do just okay, and I'm not slamming their artistry, but their music was not what I'd expected or paid for. At least Ms. Welch's acting cameo stayed in. I wish they'd checked the copyright wonks and IP lawyers at the door when they did the DVD. This edition is okay but just beware that it's NOT what you saw or heard in the theater, and IMO is a misleading and inferior product. A pity that opened DVDs are generally non-returnable.
Rating: 
Summary: Took A While, but Now I Love It
Review: I rented it first, just to see what all the hullaballoo was about. Now I'm buying it. You don't have to love the Coen Brothers to love this movie, although it wouldn't hurt. Anyone familiar with the 'exploding man' in Raising Arizona or the 'evil woodgrinder' in Fargo will realize that there has to be *something* twisted coming in this one. When it does come, it's pretty tame, but by then you're hooked. It's hard to find any fault. Clooney is perfect as the loquacious and fussy Ulysses. Goodman ditto as Cyclops. Durning ditto as the slummin' southern governor. Holly Hunter as Penelope doesn't get much screen time, but she makes the most of what she does get. And then of course there's the music, which is just too good to be true. The only thing that bothered me at all was that the brothers didn't 'bring me along gently' into the style of this particular story. In Fargo, you don't realize what you're in for till it's too late. In Raising Arizona the plot has you hooked early enough so you have to put up with the gore. There's no similar 'upward path' in this. Bang, five minutes into it, there's Clooney spouting his effortless and greasy brand of codswallop, and I found myself going "This is supposed to be FUNNY?" Well, yeah, it was, and in fact, once you get used to it, it IS. In fact, I haven't laughed this loud or this long since SLEEPER. By the end I was so wound up in the Coen's brand of madcap humor that even the swimming dog scene put me into stitches. Even such an unlikely subject as a roll-top desk turns out to be a screamer. You HAVE to see it!
Rating:
Summary: The Depression Was Never This Much Fun
Review: I am not a Coen brothers fan. I loathed "Fargo," and got only a chuckle or two out of "Raising Arizona." "O, Brother, Where Art Thou?" is an entirely different matter, though. The art direction, production design, and set design all perfectly capture the ambiance of Mississippi in the 1930s, and the casting, from George Clooney on down to the smallest roles, is superb. It is fanciful, funny, and sometimes even touching. I think this film is already a comedy classic. And then, of course, there is the music. The soundtrack has become a hit in its own right. Bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley has found himself to be a minor celebrity at the age of 75 because of it. Use your imagination, sit back, relax, and enjoy, for it is a rare comedy indeed that works as well as this one.
Rating:
Summary: Depression Era South Nightmare - Provocative
Review: Althoug many details are extremely far fetched, this story of rural Mississippi ca. 1935 has many realistic elements reminding of the "dark side" of life "down South" in the years prior to WWII. George Clooney is convincing as the street-wise and "worldly" self-appointed leader of a 3-man team escaping from a chain gang. The trio encounter a series of situations, including a recording-session at a make-shift studio owned by a blind radio station DJ, encounters with a bank robber, a shifty crook posing as Bible salesman, and several near-lynchings. Inbetween scenes we see a rivalry between the incumbent Governor and his radical challenger. Several scenes are powerful testimony to the social injustices of the day. A secret nightly KKK rally is awe-inspiring. To see how an innocent man was to be "offered up" due to nothing other than his skin color is a shocking thing to view. Another vivid reminder of "how things used to be" is the sadistic prison official, who has a keen interest in "law enforcement" (namely lynchings). Several critical moments turned out ok for our heroes, right down to the "act of God" towards the end, which gave a satisfying conclusion to the story. I appreciated the many historically correct details, yet the entire story was quite unlikely (as in "The Green Mile"). It's like getting struck by lightning AND winning the State Lottery both on the same day (and living to enjoy the fortune!)
Rating:
Summary: A Rare Triumph in Comedic Film
Review: The Cohen brothers are gaing a reputation as a duo that has a nack for producing films that are both solid and funny. O' Brother Where Art Thou?, does not fall short st all. It is a very funny romp and the Acamedy thought so too. O' Brother Where Art Thou?, was nominated for two Acamedy awards and robbed of both. It was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Cinemotography. The story follows three prisioners that become disenchanted by the daily drudge of crushing rocks on a prision farm in Mississippi, the dapper, silver-tongued Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) heads up the jail break. The problem is that they are still shackeled together from when they were in a chain gang- bad tempered Pete (John Turturro) and sweet, dim-witted Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson). With nothing to loose and a buried loot to gain-before it's lost forever in a flood-the three embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this hillariuos offbeat road comedy. Populated with quirky characters (as seen in the Cohen brothers othe masterpiece Fargo), including a blind prophet, sexy sirens, and a one-eyed Bible salesmen (Johm Goodman), it's an odyssey filled with chases, close calls, near misses, and betrayel that should be missed by anyone. O' Brother Where Art Thou? will leave you laughing at every outragous and suprising plot twist this film has to offer.
Rating:
Summary: D@mn, we in a tight spot!
Review: I was a fan of other Coen Brothers movies (Raising Arizona, Fargo), but didn't have much desire to see this based on the previews. Then, just about everyone I know told me to see it and I rented it based on their word....well am I ever grateful!! This movie grows on you everytime you watch it, I find myself quoting it everyday. The characters are crafted perfectly. Please do yourself a favor and watch this great film!!
Rating:
Summary: A Coles Notes approach to Homer's "The Odyssey"
Review: "O Brother Where Art Thou" was an entertaining journey through the Great Depression and Homer's Odyssey. The stellar cast (including George Clooney, John Turturro, John Goodman, and Holly Hunter) shines. All of the characters are quirky to say the least: a one-eyed KKK Bible salesman, a Dapper Dan-obsessed intellectual jailbird, a blues guitarist who sold his soul to the devil, a blind "prophet," the Devil bent on revenge. This is a Coles Notes approach to Homer at best (even the directors, Joel and Ethan Cohen ("Fargo," "The Big Lebowski," "Raising Arizona") admit to never actually having read "The Odyssey," the story on which "O Brother" is based), yet is unusual and highly entertaining in its own right. Fueled by an eclectic soundtrack, "O Brother" brought about an unheard-of resurgence of early country music, winning the Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack and outselling most other CDs that year. The selections include gospel, blues, a chain gang song ("Po Lazarus") and a hobo anthem ("Big Rock Candy Mountain"), along with plenty of toe-tapping country music from The Soggy Bottom Boys (fronted by Union Station's Dan Tyminski), Alison Krauss, Gillian Welsh, Emmylou Harris, and more. The film has an unusual look as well: it was digitally edited to give it the washed-out appearance of the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. There is a very interesting documentary about this process on the DVD; it is the first film to use this technique in North America (although not in Europe). In fact, there are several interesting extras on the DVD, including a making-of, a music video for "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow," and a script-to-storyboard comparison. "O Brother" is filled with fun, unexpected turns and twists, and a great soundtrack. It may not be the greatest film you'll ever see, but it sure is entertaining!
Rating:
Summary: He's a suitor
Review: It was funny, right under Miller's Crossing as the best Coen brothers film.
The Odyssey is on my night stand, just waiting to be read.
And to the woman that coplained about George Nelson shooting the cows, c'mon. Do you really think that the ASPCA would allow them to use real cows?
Rating:
Summary: I don't want FOP, ... I'm a Dapper Dan man
Review: This is probably the best movie ever, or at least since 1971 (see "Harold and Maude", the best movie ever ever). "O Brother" is a classic movie, more like the classic movies of old than any modern movie I have ever seen. Even my grandmother, with whom I always watch Depression-era movies and who claims to never understand a single modern movie, likes this film. I am in love with the soundtrack, and I think it is incredible the way it has caught on. I understand that it would be a huge success with us bluegrass enthusiasts, but my cousin, my Brittney Spears, N*SYNC listening cousin, owns this CD. Go figure! I guess people have finally begun to appreciate TRUE GREATNESS!!! One of my favorite aspects of this film is its similarity, as I have mentioned, to great old movies like "It Happened One Night." George Clooney is so like Clark Gable in this film, it's almost eerie. Not to mention the fact that "O Brother" is set in 1934, the very year "It Happened..." came out. A coincidence? I think not! The long and short of it is, this movie is specTACular, and so is "It Happened One Night." If you are considering purchasing "O Brother, Where Art Thou", do so now, and get "It Happened One Night" too. Save on shipping that way. P.S. The title of this review is my favorite line from this movie. Just recently my friend told me a story: He was half asleep, wandering through his kitchen, looking for rug cleaner and pretty annoyed, and he found himself muttering to himself, "I don't want FOP, ...! I'm a Dapper Dan man!" over and over. Needless to say, he burst out hysterically laughing. The End.
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