32. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Damn! We're in a tight spot!
76 Points, 3 Lists, #5 JBear
Directed by:
The Coen Brothers
Starring:
George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson
Ulysses, Pete and Delmar are three escaped convicts with a plan; to find a treasure that Ulysses has let them know about. But on their way, the trio find themselves in various strange situations beyond simply being hunted down by the police; meeting a musician who claims he’s sold his soul to the Devil, a bank robber with deep well of insecurity about his nickname, comely enchantresses, a picnic with a bible salesman and banishment from Woolsworth (whether it is A Woolsworth or the entire chain remains unknown). But as the journey continues, they three find themselves having a hard time with each other, especially when Ulysses reveals the secret about the treasure. And through it all, they also unwittingly release a hit song.
For most people the film that got the Coens on their radar were Fargo and The Big Lebowski (or if you are younger, No Country for Old Men). For me it was this one. Also got me into bluegrass. I think this is the film that made me realize that George Clooney’s true calling is comedic actor, though mostly with the Coens. But more than anything, it was a fun, wacky adventure that made me delighted from beginning to end. The Coens work well in a multitude of genres but I always liked some of their sweeter, gentler comedies like this and Raising Arizona. Yes, it is weird to call them gentle when Arizona is like Looney Tunes with some Sam Riami flourishes and this film is only slightly less wacky but I feel like the Coens are largely unsentimental film makers but these ones have just the right touch of sweetness and comedy. The title itself comes the classic comedy Sullivan’s Travels, about a man who wants to make a “film that matters” called O Brother Where Art Thou about the downtrodden, then realizes the downtrodden just want a film that makes them feel better instead of a dour gesture towards them. In this film, it turns out the Coens figure “why not both?” It’s a hoot and a holler and in all honesty, I feel bad for forgetting to include it on my list.
John Goodman is the best part of the film.
Bulgakov
Hero’s Journey: Ulysses escapes prison and manages to woo back his wife with a hit single.
Trivia
The film's soundtrack became an unlikely blockbuster, even surpassing the success of the film. By early 2001, it had sold five million copies, spawned a documentary film, three follow-up albums ("O Sister" and "O Sister 2"), two concert tours, and won Country Music Awards for Album of the Year and Single of the Year (for "Man of Constant Sorrow"). It also won five Grammys, including Album of the Year, and hit #1 on the Billboard album charts the week of March 15, 2002, 63 weeks after its release and over a year after the release of the film.
Ready, Set, Piece
