Review: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Robin Clifford
The Coen brothers are back again, this time with Homer's "Odyssey" as the
backdrop in their tale of three fugitives from a Mississippi chain gang who
trek across the South to find a secret treasure in "O Brother, Where Art
Thou?"
Right for the beginning of "O Brother" the Coens grab your attention with a
chain gang of prison inmates breaking rocks along the road in unison to a
work song. The camera flows around the hard toiling men, giving a visually
exciting symmetry to the scene that ends with our three heroes - Ulysses
Everett McGill (George Clooney), Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) and Pete (John
Turturro) - escaping across a cotton field. It is the beginning of a
journey that takes on different meanings and urgencies to each member of
the trio.
A strong suite, as always with the Coen brothers, is the depth of character
of the folks they create in their films. Their characters are goofy and
comical, like Nicolas Cage in "Raising Arizona"; or, dramatic, as Albert
Finney and John Turturro in "Miller's Crossing"; and, even a mix of the two
with Frances McDormand in "Fargo." In all cases, and in "O Brother," too,
the characters populating their films are three-dimensional people.
Ulysses Everett is a handsome, hair-obsessed petty criminal with a silver
tongue and not a lot in the brains department. But, he seems like a genius
when compared to the simple, sweet Delmar and the maladjusted Pete, who
follow their self appointed leader to a promised treasure of $1.2 million.
Their odyssey takes on the mystical proportions of Homer's original
material as they meet all manner of people along the way, including those
dangerous sirens who beckon them onto symbolically rocky shoals and a
Cyclops who beats them and takes all their money. There is magic, too, when
Delmar believes that Pete was turned into a horny toad by the sirens.
The story meanders through the different vignettes of the boys' adventures,
giving the flick a choppy, episodic feel that disrupts the overall flow.
Some of the interludes are an epiphany, though. The trio becomes a quartet
when they pick up guitar-playing Tommy Johnson (Chris Thomas King) and
visit a radio station in the middle of nowhere, run by its blind owner
(Stephen Root). They become the Soggy Bottom Boys for the sightless Radio
Station Man and, without their knowledge, are recorded as they sing the
traditional tune, "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow." It is a wonderful moment
of moviemaking and gives us, in my mind, the best movie song of the year.
Contrasting this and other wonderful moments (the sexy seduction by the
sirens comes to mind) are some pretentious bits that detract from the
overall quality of "O Brother." In particular, near the end, is a scene
where Ulysses, Delmar and Pete crash a Ku Klux Klan rally to save Tommy
from being lynched. The scene is overblown and flashy and reeks of "The
Wizard of Oz." They don't say "lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" and
there's no Dorothy, but it is the Land of Oz we're seeing here.
The highs and lows of the story flow are tempered by fine acting on several
levels. George Clooney is funny, charming, a little dumb and one of the
handsomest actors in the business today. He has the charm of a 30's movie
idol and is able to put himself into silly situations with dignity. Ulysses
has an ongoing obsession with his hair, risking life and limb to get a
particular brand of pomade and a supply of hairnets. His vanity will come
to plague him as it would any mystical hero-wanderer.
While Clooney is the name draw for "O Brother," the show stealer is Tim
Blake Nelson as Delmar. The heretofore unknown Nelson is terrific as the
simple convict who, at one point, hears the word of the Lord and joins
members of a church congregation in their mass baptism. Delmar is saved and
dedicates his life to doing good and provides a richness to his simple
character that makes him shine. The taciturn Pete, as played by longtime
Coen collaborator Turturro, is the sullen member of the trio and gives them
the necessary angst.
All together, the tuneful triumvirate is a mix of the Three Stooges and the
Three Musketeers as they prove to be buffoons, albeit brave ones.
The colorful supporting cast is rampant with Homerian characters to meet
and get to know along the way of the boys' odyssey. Charles Durning appears
as incumbent governor Pappy O'Daniel, who keeps crossing paths with them in
his bid for re-election. John Goodman is wicked as the one-eyed bible
salesman and con artist, Big Dan Teague. Michael Badalucco is manic and
outrageous as outlaw and bank robber extraordinary, George "Babyface"
Nelson. Stephen Root is amusing as the blind DJ, rep'ing one of the many
references to the sightless that abound in the film in mystical ways. Holly
Hunter is wasted in the small role as Ulysses' estranged wife, Penny (and
the real reason for this adventure, not secret treasure).
Techs are, as expected in a Coen brothers venture, first class.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has worked on five previous Coen films,
captures the sultry atmosphere of the South. The photography complements
the lush period production and costume provided by Dennis Gassner and Mary
Zophres, respectively. Once again, Roderick Jaynes - the alter ego of Ethan
and Joel Coen - is on board as editor.
The high points outweigh the low through most of "O Brother, Where Art
Thou?" with particular praise for the wonderful selection of period and
traditional music. I give it a B.
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X-RT-RatingText: B