"O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

[cujo95]

I highly recommend an outrageously funny movie that is an ingeniously funny parody on life during the depression in the deep south of the U.S.A.
Although there is some occasional profanity, "O Brother, Where Art Thou" is non-stop wholesome fun. The movie also does a take-off on such movies as "Cool Hand Luke."
The movie uses much unspoken symbolism to add to the special witt and charm of this very different comedy.
The scenery and the cinematography are reminisant of "Bonnie and Clide"
The music is wonderfully different, as evidenced by the Grammy Awards it received.
If you are American and born a "baby-boomer' or before, I think you will really appreciate this film. But, perhaps, those born afterward, like my 31 year old daughter, might not be able to fully appreciate this movie.
I give it 4 1/2 stars. And I would give it 5, like I say, if it were not for some profanity used in this movie.

[Orpheus42]

It's also basically Homer's Odessey with a different setting. Great movie! And great soundtrack!

[Kittycat]

"what we have here is...a failure to communicate!"-Cool Hand Luke

[cujo95]

Thanks Orpheus and Kitty,

I was first told this movie was based on James Joyce's ULYSSES which I understand parallels Homer's ODYSSEY. I can't remember since it has been many years ago that I read ULYSSES in a literature class in college.
But I saw a caption at the beginning of the "O Brother...." movie that quoted Homer's ODYSSEY. I think you are correct; it does follow Homer's ODESSEY.

[Kittycat]

you are most welcome for the movie quote!

[Vinnie]

"Your dumber than a bag of hammers" :D

Clooney said something like that anyways....

[Flannel Avenger]

I thought it was hillarious.

[Playa]

I wish I could've gotten a chance to see all of it. My dad rented it but had the TV up so loud it gave me a headache, so I just left. :cool: But maybe I can rent it again sometime.

[Ashwee]

I'm only 15 and I loved it! It did help though that George Clooney is in it... :love:

[cujo95]

My favorite scene is the next to the last one where the whole area is flooded by the TVA.:bomb:
And you see all these symbols of the story drifting under water.
Like the chain-gang warden's dark glasses, :2cool:
And the warden's hair-jelly sniffing bloodhound,:p
the roll-top desk,:love:
And of course, all those cans of "Dapper Dan.":stinkeye:

[Ashwee]

I dont quite get that flood scene... but the dapper dan cans are a hoot... hehe!
"I dont want FOP... I'm a Dapper Dan man!" Teheheh!

My Fav. scene would have to be either where they're stuck in the barn, and G.C. keeps saying "Dang, we're in a tight spot..." Well, thats not exact words, but yea, if youve seen the movie you'll know why.

haha another great scene was when they were telling the other guy that they thought he had turned into a toad! haha! Its so great! We thot yous was a Tooahd! (The way they say it is just so funny heehe)

[Flannel Avenger]

My favorite quote is "They interrupted a lynch mob in the performance of its duties"

[cujo95]

Hi Jedidiah,

I am not quite sure what you don't get about the flood scene so maybe I can help. (Here goes)

I am sure you know that (Clooney) told the other two that he had hidden the money at his old home farm. And that they only had so much time to escape and get to the treasure before the Tenessee Valley Authority (TVA) would release the water to flood the entire area. (Of course this actually happened in the '30s.)
Clooney and his friends arrive too late, (to get "the ring," not the money), and their persuers catch them; but none of them seem to be aware that this is the big day that the whole area will be flooded.

This flood scene captures a turning point in our culture: Bringing rural society of that time to the modern life of the rest of the country. Before the coming the hydro-electric dams most of the country used oil lamps for light, coal for heat, and for many, the only horsepower they had WAS the horse. I remember my dad telling me that the only light they had was kerosene lamps and coal and wood burned for heat on the farms he grew up on in the 1930s.






















































The prison warden and his posse, Clooney's three friends, Clooney's wife, and most everyone else in the story is still stuck in the old way of life; they hadn't really come into the twentieth century quite the same way that the more urban part had.
In that next to the last scene when they are clinging to what ever will float them, his friends in clinging to the remains of the flood are in a sense clinging to the past.
Clooney seems to be the only one given a glimse of a future- out their dark age into a new world of technology with the coming of electric power to everyone.
His wife's insistance on finding "that ring" is more that just sentimentality; but symbolizes her own clinging to the past.
Even though the South was brought into the modern era with electric service and the highway system, starting in the late 1930s, it still clung to the its old ways, it "old timing". --It still clung to its old ways and beliefs the way that Tommy did when he cling to that roll-top desk floating in the lake, and also the way Holly Hunter did in insisting on "that ring."

There are other things that are very symbolic. It think this film should not just be watched and enjoyed, but STUDIED.

[Ashwee]

oo iget it now!!! :eureka:
thankyou for the explanation!!

[Flannel Avenger]

I got the soundtrack for my birthday :D

[Kittycat]

coolness!!!!

[Vinnie]

Not to be the skeptic but was this a book or anything first? Is there any official information that tells us what its about? I think we can read stuff into everything so I'm just wondering if anyone has any sources or anything?

[Flannel Avenger]

A lot of that stuff was in the little book that came with the CD :angel:

[MikeMcK]

"Oh Brother..." is the only film I've ever bought on video.

The scene in the beginning where George Clooney is dragged off of the moving train is worth the price of the movie, alone.

I've always been a big bluegrass fan so I have the soundtrack, the sequel, and Ralph Stanley's two related albums.

A few weeks ago many of the artists from the soundtrack came to Philadelphia for show called "Down From the Mountain" and it was truly too cool.

Has anyone seen the movie "Songcatcher" which, like "Oh Brother" is built around a bluegrass/old time soundtrack?

Mike

http://www.keylife.org