Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
WWS
making is dead for good, a movie like this one comes
along and lets me know there are still people who can do
it right. This is the most delightful and entertaining
film I've seen in years, and I suggest anyone who hasn't
seen it go and do so immediately - you won't be disapointed!
What's really pleasurable is that it is so delightfully
layered, and so many different strands are woven toghether
into a beautiful piece of cloth. It's a simple story
about 3 escaped convicts which gets quite complicated
when you realize that a lot of them elements are (as they
tell you in the beginning) taken from the Odyssey, and
even that is overlaid subtly by the reference to Preston
Sturges work "Sullivan's Travels" in the title. This is
one of those movies that can be enjoyed purely on a surface
level, or peeled back like an onion, layer by layer.
One thing especially - this is one of the best period
soundtracks, and best *Uses* of a soundtrack that I've
ever seen. (Leadbelly is another more obscure movie with
a fantastic period soundtrack) The Klan meeting, which
could easily have turned out to be simply silly is made
gripping with an eerie and haunting piece of responsive
song on the part of the participants, and this happens
again and again throughout the film.
What's most amazing to me is that I think that in their surreal
and dream-like fashion, they managed to catch more of the
*reality* of life in that place and time than any one of a
dozen much more serious attempts.
And I want to say that I went to see it on President Hole's
suggestion - thank you President Hole. Curious to ask
anyone else who's seen it whether they noticed some things
that I thought were obvious but which I haven't seen
mentioned yet anywhere - such as references to other films.
Do go see it, by all means.
--
__________________________________________________WWS_____________
Tylermasse
>making is dead for good, a movie like this one comes
>along and lets me know there are still people who can do
>it right. This is the most delightful and entertaining
>film I've seen in years, and I suggest anyone who hasn't
>seen it go and do so immediately - you won't be disapointed!
>
>What's really pleasurable is that it is so delightfully
>layered, and so many different strands are woven toghether
>into a beautiful piece of cloth. It's a simple story
>about 3 escaped convicts which gets quite complicated
>when you realize that a lot of them elements are (as they
>tell you in the beginning) taken from the Odyssey,
The real problem there is that people have little concept of Homer's work,
outside of the Simpsons, of course.
and
>even that is overlaid subtly by the reference to Preston
>Sturges work "Sullivan's Travels" in the title. This is
>one of those movies that can be enjoyed purely on a surface
>level, or peeled back like an onion, layer by layer.
Who knew Clooney could be so funnee?
>
>One thing especially - this is one of the best period
>soundtracks, and best *Uses* of a soundtrack that I've
>ever seen.
T Bone Burnett will be robbed of his rightful place as architect af the best
score in years. Utterly fantastic.
> (Leadbelly is another more obscure movie with
>a fantastic period soundtrack) The Klan meeting, which
>could easily have turned out to be simply silly is made
>gripping with an eerie and haunting piece of responsive
>song on the part of the participants, and this happens
>again and again throughout the film.
The sirens sequence is especially great.
>
>What's most amazing to me is that I think that in their surreal
>and dream-like fashion, they managed to catch more of the
>*reality* of life in that place and time than any one of a
>dozen much more serious attempts.
I didn't think this was a one horse town, but you can't get a decent hair
jelly...
>
>And I want to say that I went to see it on President Hole's
>suggestion - thank you President Hole. Curious to ask
>anyone else who's seen it whether they noticed some things
>that I thought were obvious but which I haven't seen
>mentioned yet anywhere - such as references to other films.
>
>Do go see it, by all means.
>--
May I also recommend "THE GIFT"?
Tyler
Welcome to the Glorious New Economy!