I don't think that when Homer wrote The Odyssey around the 8th century B.C., he was expecting it to transform into George Clooney worrying about finding the next can of Dapper Dan to hold his luscious hair up in. However, that is one of the most entertaining aspects of this film. O Brother, Where Art Thou? is an incredibly well-made retelling of the classic tale from Homer and has so many amazing elements that make it unforgettable.
The greatest aspects of this movie lie in its storytelling. This film is a semi-modern retelling of the epic tale The Odyssey. While this film is obviously not as long or detailed as the classic novel, it has all of the perfect elements to keep the audience entertained without getting too caught up in the lore of it all. This movie follows three escaped convicts, Everett (George Clooney), Pete (John Turturro), and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) as they run from the police forces who are tracking them down. Along the way, they run into a cast of different characters, all relating to established characters from the epic book. Other performers seen throughout this film include John Goodman as the bible salesman (the Cyclops) and Holly Hunter as Everett's wife Penny (Penelope). This entire cast was incredible and made this 1940's-era tale so compelling. Especially George Clooney, who brought the majority of the much-needed humor and vivacity throughout the story. I loved how while the story told the dark tale of three convicts on the run, it still gave some much-needed room for comedic development. This is what I truly believe sets this film apart from the typically-dull Southern atmosphere that many movies create.
The setting of this movie also contributes to why I adore it so much: its Depression-era America background paired with the characters makes it so interesting. As for the story, I love how the Coen brothers paced this film with the many iconic moments from the novel. They did not try to retell the entire trying tale of Odysseus and I am thankful for that, as this film might have been hours upon hours long. Instead, only the most critical scenes were included that helped tell this particular story while keeping it a tale of its own. My only issue with this is that while there was the main plotline (finding the treasure), some of the modern-retold scenes were a bit forced and did not accompany the overall story.
The most memorable part of this movie has to be its timely soundtrack. The country and bluegrass-style music that was used throughout set an incredible tone for the story. Especially being set in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere in many scenes, it brought so much life to this dreariness. The cinematography in this film was incredible as well, as can be expected from Roger Deakins. Deakins is a frequent collaborator of not only the Coen brothers but also Denis Villeneuve and Sam Mendes. He has proven himself to be an excellent cinematographer with an eye for the absolutely beautiful. This can be seen in how he framed the three convicts in so many shots of this film, putting them in objective lights as they developed throughout their story.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is undoubtedly one of the most charming movies of all time. While it does not necessarily follow one distinct plot line, it nails the retelling of the epic adventure of Odysseus. The setting, cinematography, performances, and the marvelous soundtrack truly make this movie an epic of its own.
My Rating: ★★★½
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