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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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O
Brother, Where Art Thou?
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Reviewed
by: |
Chris
Graham |
| Genre: |
Comedy |
| Video: |
Widescreen |
| Audio: |
DTS
5.1 Channel Surround, Dolby Digital |
| Language: |
English
and Spanish |
| Subtitle: |
English
and Spanish |
| Length: |
106
minutes |
| Rating: |
PG-13 |
| Release
Date: |
6-12-01
|
| Studio: |
Touchstone |
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
|
Painting
with Pixels |
| Featurettes:
|
Storyboard
to Scene Comparison (multi-angle feature) also Production Featurette |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
See Featurettes |
|
Interviews: |
See Featurettes |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
One
Trailor plus Sneak Previews of Unbreakable, Bounce, and The
Crew |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
"I
am a Man With Constant Sorrow" by The Soggy Bottom Boys |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
George Clooney,
John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, And Holly Hunter
|
| Screenplay
by: |
Ethan and
Joel Coen |
| Produced
by: |
Ethan Coen |
| Directed
By: |
Joel Coen |
| Music: |
T Bone Burnett |
| The
Review: |
From
the minds behind such modern classics as "Fargo" and "Raising
Arizona" comes another far out comedy. This time the Coen brothers
take us to Depression era Mississippi with an interpretation
based on Homer's The Odyssey. Instead of following a mighty
Odysseus on his travels through ancient Greece, the viewer follows
three escaped convicts on their travels in the countryside.
George Clooney plays the leader of these "ex-cons" with John
Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson following behind. They escape
because of a lost treasure that is buried at George's Cabin.
The only problem is the Mississippi Government is going to flood
the valley in a couple of days, wiping out the cabin. However,
this is the least their problems. During their travels, the
three survive a barn fire, a group of sexy sirens, a large KKK
meeting, and a "Cyclops" bible salesman (played by John Goodman)
all while being chased by the law. In the middle of this entire
running around, the Cons, while trying to raise some quick cash,
manage to record a single at a local radio station. The Soggy
Bottom Boys, as they are known, become an overnight success
if anyone could every find out who wrote it. This new Coen brother
movie is another very cleverly written farce using another sub-culture
American accent. Just like they did with Fargo, Joel and Ethan
use everything that makes Mississippi culture what it is, or
what it was. Although this movie is set in the Depression, the
story is very funny and well written. Too add the all the singing
and local customs of the mighty Mississippi creates a world
of intrigue and beauty during a dark part of history. The acting
in this movie was very well done. I am not a big fan of George
Clonney and until I now did not think too highly of any of his
roles. That has all changed after seeing this movie. I enjoyed
the fact that his character was a ruff looking man but always
had to have a pound of Palm Aid in his hair. Any actor that
can make fun of himself and still carry the movie through is
all right in my books. John Goodman and Holly Hunter, who have
played outrageous characters in other Coen brother movies before,
play great supporting roles in this movie as well. John Goodman
plays the bible salesman from hell that steals the cons on the
promise of making money selling Bibles. The Cyclopes (I say
this because of the eye-patch he wears and the reference to
the story Odyssey) then reappears as a grumpy KKK Klan's member.
Holly Hunter (Penelope) plays George Clooney's wife and mother
of six. She is sick of her husband and him being away for so
long, so she has found a man that is "bonified" with a job.
With these supporting characters, who always seem the funniest
parts in Coen brother movies, add to the rich story that is
"O' Brother, Where Art Thou?". |
| Image
and Sound |
This movie
is a first for the motion picture industry in the ever expanding
digital world. The Coen brothers wanted to make all the shots
of Mississippi to look like it was during the Depression. When
a film is finished shooting, the film is processed in a lab.
There is a person in these labs that "color corrects" all the
film so that it looks like it was shot in order. What is different
on this movie, and what makes it a first, is that during the
color correcting process, the film went through a digital developer
so they could make all the scenes with a browner looking color
background. This process is all explained in the extra features
called "Painting With Pixels". This is the reason why it was
nominated for best Cinematography. The audio in this movie is
great as well. Other then the fact that there are a lot of foot
stoppin' songs throughout the movie, there is a lot of great
explosions and floods that sound great on either DTS 5.1 Channel
Surround or Dolby Digital sound, which are both offered. |
| The
Extras |
This DVD
has many great features on it for any one who is interested
in the film world. Like mentioned above, "Painting With Pixels"
is a very interesting documentary about the methods that Director
of Photography Roger Deakins and the Kodak Film company went
through to make the look that the Coens' where looking for.
Speaking about the Coen brothers, there is a production documentary
which features Joel and Ethan along with most of the actors
in this film. What I really liked about this feature interview
is that they talk to the filmmakers more than they talk to the
actors. I get sick of some actor interviews that make it look
like they were the people that made this film. I am not interested
in what George Clooney has to say about a shot that he never
even thought of. Not to bad mouth George or any other actor
in this film; they were kind with their words about the cast.
Just watch this interview to see two great filmmakers talk about
their art. You will not be disappointed. Another cool feature
is the "Storyboard to Scene Comparison" with Multi-angle feature.
The viewer gets to see the drawn storyboards for two of the
major scenes in this movie. Again, it is surprising to see how
close these drawing are to the actual shot on the film. In addition,
with this feature, you can see the storyboard and the film at
the same time. Not to take anything away from this feature,
which I really enjoyed, but next time I would hire a better
artist to do the illustrations. However, that is just my opinion.
Also making an appearance on the DVD is the music video for
The Sloppy Bottom Boys song, "I am a Man With Constant Sorrow."
Before seeing this movie, I was mad that this video was being
played on TV. I thought the song was terrible and did not belong
on TV because it was a three-minute plug for the film. That
all changes as you watch the movie and actually start singing
along. Then it gets stuck in your head and the next thing you
know, your back to watching the video. Weird how things like
that works out in the end. Last but not least, there are the
standard movie trailers, which are good and sneak peaks of Unbreakable,
Bounce, and The Crew. |
| Commentary |
None |
| Final
Words: |
If you can
not tell by now, O'Brother, Where Art Thou? is another great
modern classic from the Coen brothers. The cast and the story
are so strong that the movie is an experience to watch. The
features, especially the Painting With Pixel documentary, work
perfect with the presentation of the DVD. The only complain
that I would recommend for the future of this DVD would be a
commentary with the Coen brothers. Other then that, this movie
is highly recommend for anyone who enjoys the efforts that are
put into a movie, or a DVD for that matter. |
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