Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Ivana Redwine
Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
I loved it. It may not be the greatest of their films, but I thought
it was one of their most entertaining and accessible ones. I was just
wondering what others thought about this particular film or any others
by Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski).
--Ivana Redwine
About.com Guide to Home Video/DVD
http://homevideo.about.com
Review of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
http://homevideo.about.com/movies/homevideo/library/weekly/aa062001a.htm
Dawn Taylor
Redwine) wrote:
>Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Just that it was one of the best movies last year, and that it's a
shame it didn't reach the audience it deserved in theaters.
It seems to be making up for that on video, though.
Dawn
John Harkness
wrote:
>On 23 Jun 2001 10:24:55 -0700, red...@freelancewriting.zzn.com (Ivana
>Redwine) wrote:
>
>>Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>>Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>
>Just that it was one of the best movies last year, and that it's a
>shame it didn't reach the audience it deserved in theaters.
>
Funny thing about that -- Financially, it was the Coen's most
successful film in theatres.
John Harkness
Lorne
>Funny thing about that -- Financially, it was the Coen's most
>successful film in theatres.
That's because it was their first film released by a major studio,
much like "Small Time Crooks" was Woody's biggest hit in years,
despite the fact that it was a mediocre film. I really liked "O
Brother!" and it keeps getting better with multiple viwings. The first
two-thirds is a lot tighter than the final third, though.
-----
Lorne
Last three movies seen, rated out of four:
The Animal (**)
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (*)
Evolution (*)
* To reply, remove the second "o" (between the "d" and "g").
Chad Irby
> Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Fun movie. Fantastic music.
Ickyboy1
>
>Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>
>I loved it. It may not be the greatest of their films, but I thought
>it was one of their most entertaining and accessible ones.
I hated it. (Well there's always one isn't there). Surely FARGO is their most
accessible movie. I love that one, but really can't get into much else of their
stuff...
Jeremy Doherty
I think you have pretty succinctly described many people's reactions
to O Brother. It may not be the Coens' most seamless or engaging work,
but it is undeniably funny and endlessly clever. I've seen it about
half a dozen times now and I still enjoy it just as much as the first
viewing -- perhaps even more, because the characters are so well
drawn. Watching the film is like visiting with old friends.
JD
Walter Lane
--
If you liked LEFT BEHIND,
look over FEARMONGER
@ http://www.horroresq.com
"Ivana Redwine" <red...@freelancewriting.zzn.com> wrote in message
news:66441266.01062...@posting.google.com...
Norman Wilner
news:3b350539...@news.sprint.ca...
> (John Harkness) wrote:
>>
>> Funny thing about that -- Financially, it was the Coen's most
>> successful film in theatres.
>
> That's because it was their first film released by a major studio,
> much like "Small Time Crooks" was Woody's biggest hit in years,
> despite the fact that it was a mediocre film. I really liked "O
> Brother!" and it keeps getting better with multiple viwings. The first
> two-thirds is a lot tighter than the final third, though.
About half of the Coens' films have been released by major studios -- "Blood
Simple" by Universal (the first time), "Raising Arizona", "Miller's
Crossing" and "Barton Fink" by Fox, "The Hudsucker Proxy" by Warner, and "O
Brother, Where Art Thou?" by Disney.
"O Brother" was just the first one that was marketable as a broad comedy
with a marquee name in the leading role ...
Norm Wilner
Starweek Magazine
http://www.zap2it.com/movies/videodvd
Charles_T
Thought O Brother was very funny and it had great music. Didn't like Fargo.
Thought it was boring. Raising Arizona is great fun. The Big Lebowski was a
return to form after two bad films (Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo). Millers Crossing is
my favorite of theirs.
Charles T.
Lorne
>About half of the Coens' films have been released by major studios -- "Blood
>Simple" by Universal (the first time), "Raising Arizona", "Miller's
>Crossing" and "Barton Fink" by Fox, "The Hudsucker Proxy" by Warner, and "O
>Brother, Where Art Thou?" by Disney.
>
>"O Brother" was just the first one that was marketable as a broad comedy
>with a marquee name in the leading role ...
You're right, I'm wrong. Oh well. :)
Mpoconnor7
previous films (seems to be a trademark of theirs)
One was George Cloney's fascination with having haircream. It reminded me of
John Goodman in the bathroom in "Raising Arizona" putting the goo in his hair.
Also there was the guy on the handcar who was reminescent of the guy who worked
on the machines in "Hudsucker Proxy"
Then there was the guy with the dog who tracked them thruoughout the movie.
This reminded me of Leonard Smalls from RA, and there was the scene with the
dog sniffing Clooney's haircream tin, which Leonard did in the bathroom to John
Goodman's haircream tin in RA.
I'm sure there are others but those are the first which come to mind.
Michael O'Connor - Modern Renaissance Man
"The probability of one person being right increases in a direct porportion to
the intensity with which others try to prove him wrong"
Ivana Redwine
other films, including the Coen's own movies, was one of the things
that delighted me. The Coen brothers are obviously steeped in film
history, and "O Brother" alludes to many other movies, including "The
Birth of a Nation," "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang," and more than
one of the Marx Brothers films. In addition, the title "O Brother,
Where Art Thou?" is drawn from the classic 1941 Preston Sturges comedy
"Sullivan's Travels."
Ivana Redwine
Guide to Home Video/DVD
http://homevideo.about.com
mpoco...@aol.comnojunk (Mpoconnor7) wrote in message news:<20010626153258...@ng-fq1.aol.com>...
Ivana Redwine
other films, including the Coen's own movies, was one of the things
that delighted me. The Coen brothers are obviously steeped in film
history, and "O Brother" alludes to many other movies, including "The
Birth of a Nation," "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang," and more than
one of the Marx Brothers films. In addition, the title "O Brother,
Where Art Thou?" is drawn from the classic 1941 Preston Sturges comedy
"Sullivan's Travels."
Ivana Redwine
Guide to Home Video/DVD
http://homevideo.about.com
mpoco...@aol.comnojunk (Mpoconnor7) wrote in message news:<20010626153258...@ng-fq1.aol.com>...
Avoid normal situations.
> Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> I loved it. It may not be the greatest of their films, but I thought
> it was one of their most entertaining and accessible ones. I was just
> wondering what others thought about this particular film or any others
> by Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski).
It's funny, really. It seems that people who've seen it fall into one of
two camps: (1) the people who really like it, at a laugh-out-loud level,
and (2) those who are disappointed by it. I fall in the second.
Mind you, I'm a fan of the Coens. I still drag out my copy of _The Hudsucker
Proxy_ from time to time and marvel at it and think, "Wow! How could I have
ever come up with something that clever?" (E.g., Mr. Mussburger's trousers,
how the hula hoop catches on, several other ideas). I have that reaction to
several other films of theirs as well.
By contrast, I don't remember finding anything in _The Big Lebowski_ or
_O Brother_ especially brilliant. I am wont to speculate that their creative
well is running dry.
--
alt.flame Special Forces
"I did not look behind me, 'til I got to St. Omer's & thence fled to America;
here I offer'd to become a Spy for the English Government which was scornfully
rejected; I then turned to Plunder & Libel the Yankees, for which I was Fined
5000 Dollars & kicked out of the Country! I came back to England (after
absconding for Seven years) & set up the Crown & Mitre to establish my
Loyalty! -- accepted from the Doctor 400 pounds to print & disperse a pamphlet
against 'the Hellfire of Reform'... but applied the Money to purchase an
estate at Botley, & left ye Doctor to pay the Paper & Printing! Being now Lord
of the Manor, I began by sowing the seeds of discontent through Hampshire: I
oppressed the Poor, sent the Aged to Hell, & damned the eyes of my Parish
Apprentices before they were open'd in the morning! ... and being now
supported by a Board of Reformers, I renewed my old favorite Toast of
Damnation to the House of Brunswick! & being exalted by the sale of 10,000
Political Registers every week, I find myself the greatest Man in the World!
except that Idol of all my Adorations, his Royal & Imperial Majesty,
NAPOLEONE!" -- William Cobbett
Dawn Taylor
> Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
A few nights ago, I saw O Brother, Where Art Thou? for the third time,
and enjoyed it as much, if not more, than the previous viewings.
Sunday I saw A.I.
Last night I saw Scary Movie 2.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? continues to look better and better all the
time. Not only do I like it more every time I see it, it's just damn
*good*. Really, really good. It was probably the best movie that came
out last year. With the possible exception of Memento, it still beats
out anything I've seen *this* year.
I wish more filmmakers were as tight and as consistant and as smart as
the Coens.
Dawn
trotsky
Dawn Taylor wrote:
>
> > Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> > Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>
> A few nights ago, I saw O Brother, Where Art Thou? for the third time,
> and enjoyed it as much, if not more, than the previous viewings.
Any idea what the point of that movie was?
Cadillac Jones
wrote:
A road trip...Point A-B-C-D with unexpected things happening along the
way.
It reminded me of some Greek book I had to read in the 10th grade :)
I saw it the other night on DVD and was pleasantly surprised at how
good it was. I didn't hold out much hope for it after the Big Lebowski
but the Cohens are turning into the Star Trek franchise. One really
good, one really bad...
"I'm the luckiest man in the world. I have a cigarette
lighter and a wife...and they both work!"
Derek Janssen
>
> >Any idea what the point of that movie was?
>
> A road trip...Point A-B-C-D with unexpected things happening along the
> way.
>
> It reminded me of some Greek book I had to read in the 10th grade :)
I tried to let it remind me of same, but it soon became "Spot the actual
bits of Homer in it, and win a prize":
Okay, let's see, the blind guy in the recording booth....Is he
Homer?--No wait, the Klan candidate is named Homer, can't be him...Well,
maybe he's the blind prophet?...And John Goodman's got an eyepatch, so
he's obviously the Cyclops, but how do they trick him?...And wait, they
mentioned some politician named Menelaus, and...
...Aw, heck, by the time we got a KKK rally turning into the Winkie
guards from Wizard of Oz and doing a blues number, I just assumed the
Coens WANTED to string a few classic hillbilly/old-time music videos
together with no plot, to sell the soundtrack, and think up a convincing
alibi later in post-production. : /
Derek Janssen
dja...@ultranet.com
Cadillac Jones
You forgot the Sirens also. It definitely wasn't a cohesive plot but
it at least entertained me. As with most of the Cohen's stuff they
concentrate on wacky characters rather than on storylines which are
usually pretty thin. One thing about the Cohens is that they have
usually have a good pool of actors to pull from and get some very good
over-the-top performances out of them.
I like a lot of their characters but I can see how they can run pretty
thin if you enjoy plot driven movies.
Derek Janssen
>
> >> >Any idea what the point of that movie was?
> >>
> >
> >I tried to let it remind me of same, but it soon became "Spot the actual
> >bits of Homer in it, and win a prize":
> >Okay, let's see, the blind guy in the recording booth....Is he
> >Homer?--No wait, the Klan candidate is named Homer, can't be him...Well,
> >maybe he's the blind prophet?...And John Goodman's got an eyepatch, so
> >he's obviously the Cyclops, but how do they trick him?...And wait, they
> >mentioned some politician named Menelaus, and...
> >
>
> You forgot the Sirens also.
...Yeah, but the original character *escaped* the Sirens--
But, well, figured they were running short for plot time, so they had to
combine it with the Circe story (Delmar thinking Pete's been turned into
a frog)...But IIRC, he escaped HER, too.
That, and the movie-theater scene being the visit to Hades (a stretch,
I'll admit, but at that point I was desperate) were about the only clear
distinctions that could be made--They couldn't even get "Penny" right either!
Derek Janssen
dja...@ultranet.com
JoyA.
"Derek Janssen" <dja...@ultranet.com> wrote in message
> That, and the movie-theater scene being the visit to Hades (a stretch,
> I'll admit, but at that point I was desperate) were about the only clear
> distinctions that could be made--They couldn't even get "Penny" right
either!
Penny was my main complaint about the movie. I realize they didn't have to
follow Homers epic to the letter, but Penelope was a constant. She was never
wavering, and faithfully waiting for her husbands return. I was a little
upset at the way they portrayed her in this film, but other than that I felt
the movie was fine.
JoyA.
Tom Cervo
>thin if you enjoy plot driven movies.
I think they used up a lot of the plot generating cells in "Blood Simple" and
"Miller's Crossing".
I think that they make movies for two reasons. Sometimes they get an idea that
won't let them sleep until they get it on screen, and sometimes they make a
movie because it's boring when they aren't making a movie.
Reagen Sulewski
<9hrq05$ao6$3...@og1.olagrande.net>:
>Ivana Redwine <red...@freelancewriting.zzn.com> wrote:
>
>> Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>> Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
>
>> I loved it. It may not be the greatest of their films, but I thought
>> it was one of their most entertaining and accessible ones. I was just
>> wondering what others thought about this particular film or any others
>> by Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski).
>
> It's funny, really. It seems that people who've seen it fall into one
> of
>two camps: (1) the people who really like it, at a laugh-out-loud level,
>and (2) those who are disappointed by it. I fall in the second.
>
> Mind you, I'm a fan of the Coens. I still drag out my copy of _The
> Hudsucker
>Proxy_ from time to time and marvel at it and think, "Wow! How could I
>have ever come up with something that clever?" (E.g., Mr. Mussburger's
>trousers, how the hula hoop catches on, several other ideas). I have
>that reaction to several other films of theirs as well.
> By contrast, I don't remember finding anything in _The Big Lebowski_
> or
>_O Brother_ especially brilliant. I am wont to speculate that their
>creative well is running dry.
Come on! How about The Dude using the pencil shading trick to see what
Jackie Treehorn had written on the note pad, only to find out that it was a
useless doodle?
--
"I disagree" is not a personal insult.
aemilia
compelled to spew forth:
>You forgot the Sirens also.
Don't forget the Baptists were the Lotus Eaters.
aemilia
Avoid normal situations.
> "Avoid normal situations." <by...@NOSPAM.olagrande.net> wrote in
> <9hrq05$ao6$3...@og1.olagrande.net>:
[..]
>> By contrast, I don't remember finding anything in _The Big Lebowski_
>> or
>>_O Brother_ especially brilliant. I am wont to speculate that their
>>creative well is running dry.
> Come on! How about The Dude using the pencil shading trick to see what
> Jackie Treehorn had written on the note pad, only to find out that it was a
> useless doodle?
I've completely forgotten that bit. OTOH, I still remember Marge Gunderson
and the two blondie courtesans bobbing their heads in near-unison in _Fargo_
and laughing my own head off as if it were yesterday.
_The Big Lebowski_ ("bum as film noir detective") and _O Brother_ ("Homer's
_Odyssey_ played for laughs in the Depression-era South") must have sounded
great on paper. Alas, alack...
Andrew Jeanes
Tom Cervo <tomc...@aol.com> wrote:
[Of the Coen brothers}
>I think that they make movies for two reasons. Sometimes they get an idea that
>won't let them sleep until they get it on screen, and sometimes they make a
>movie because it's boring when they aren't making a movie.
From a purely selfish point of view, those sound like two pretty damn
good reasons to make a movie. If what results is a good film, great.
If not, nobody's forcing you to go see it.
Andrew
--
"Sea language would be a very terse and economical speech if the
Old Man didn't lose the advantage by padding it with unnecessary
expletives." --Robert Cushman Murphy, _Logbook for Grace_
Chris Camfield
wrote:
C'mon people - the movie is inspired by the Odyssey at best.
*Nothing* was adapted straight from the epic. Try to enjoy the
elements of the film for what they are, rather than comparing them
with the Odyssey.
I mean, if the film was a close adaptation of the Odyssey, Pete and
Delmar would have died horrible deaths along the way, and at the end
of the film, Ulysses would have arrived home to brutally massacre a
bunch of freeloaders. Sound like fun? Would it be in keeping with
the spirit of the film as it is?
Chris
Swyck
I liked it a lot. The plot was pretty weird, but I found it
thoroughly enjoyable. The music is great.
I knew about it being based on the Oddysey, but I was surprised by the
Wizard of Oz, Crossroads, Cool Hand Luke, and I don't know what else.
What was the Baby Face Nelson thread supposed to be about?
Helen & Bob
Cadillac Jones wrote:
> On Tue, 03 Jul 2001 12:40:15 -0500, trotsky <gsi...@qwestonline.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >Dawn Taylor wrote:
> >>
> >> > Have you seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> >> > Any thoughts about O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> >>
> >> A few nights ago, I saw O Brother, Where Art Thou? for the third time,
> >> and enjoyed it as much, if not more, than the previous viewings.
> >
> >
> >
> >Any idea what the point of that movie was?
>
> A road trip...Point A-B-C-D with unexpected things happening along the
> way.
>
> It reminded me of some Greek book I had to read in the 10th grade :)
>
>
Trotsky will not understand your reference.
Bob