Andrew McMurtryREVIEW: O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000)
October 1st 2008 02:02
“O Brother, Where Art Thou” is based on the epic poet Homer’s “The Odyssey”. The Coen Brothers decided based is quite enough and remade the story. Where as “The Odyssey” relates to the journey home from the Trojan War for Ulysses, which takes him 10 years, “O Brother, Where Art Thou” follows a jail break from a chain gang in Mississippi in the South of America. As they go on they meet an old man, who forsees the path in front of the fugitives, sirens that seduce the travellers, turning one into a horny toad, and the Cyclops in the form of a bible salesman.
Liberties that the Coen Brother’s have taken with this narrative include the main character Ulysses Everett McGill. Instead of being a king, Everett is a tax cheat who was sent to prison. Yet he demands the respect of fellow chain-gang members. The escaped convict/hero of the story, played by George Clooney, is a fast talking, vain (shown by his obsession with his hair), fraudster of colonial America. He lies to his companions to get them to break out of prison to dig up some buried treasure. While there are moments relating to Homer’s “Odyssey” all through the story, it is only based on the epic poem, allow the Coen’s to create the rest of their narrative themselves.
This film uses great imagery so that it doesn’t have to state which time exactly it is in. It refers to the depression so we assume that it is in the early 1930’s. This is further helped by the look of colonial America with the dry, yellowed colour of everything. Its settings continually change from country areas, like bushland and country roads with no houses or buildings around to cities and towns, to let you know the progression of their adventure. This is cleverly done through the use of adding thickness to the scene. As they get closer, they travel through thicker bushland and bigger towns.
This film, while being a comedy based on Homer’s odyssey, also deals with important issues, including segregation and racism. This is discovered in the scene when our heroes mistakenly stumble into Klu Klux Klan meeting.
There is great music used in this film. It uses a mix old-timey gospel, blues and country music. This fits in with the aesthetic of the film and "Man of Constant Sorrow" is a brilliantly catchy song which will stay stuck in your head for hours after.
“O Brother Where Art Thou” is a film that will surprise many with its serious undertone despite its good humour and quirky characters. I found this to be hilarious and a great story, with a great script and great acting. I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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