Hey folks, Harry here with a review from James, who just saw O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? Now... I'm DYING TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!! The Coens are the geniuses I adore to behold in a cinema near me.... and them doing a screwball comedy 30's depression era southern retelling of HOMER'S THE ODYSSEY... Well... I'M DYING. Moriarty was over at Geek Headquarters earlier tonight... and though we had both seen the new O BROTHER trailer... repeatedly... we couldn't help but joyfully watch it again and again. I LOVE THE TRAILER. It's genius. The script was genius. And I will take noone's word on the quality of the film, besides my own... I'm dying to see this....
Harry,
I'am writing to make known my slight disappointment with the new Coen bros. film, Oh, brother where art thou? which I watched at Edinburgh last night. I loved all the other Coen films, and this is their weakest one yet. The basic problem with it is really silly. Too silly. I realise it's supposed to be a screwball comedy, but I feel that in trying to stick to Homer's text they have run into problems- the plot lacks focus- I mean GC's character was supposed to be lawyer. Why would he let John Goodman con him into buying him lunch, and then be robbed by him- it was completely out of character, and I feel the sequence was in there only so they could get a cyclops in the film.
HARRY NOTE: I would just like to state the obvious... that just because George Clooney was supposed to be a lawyer does not preclude him from being an idiot. I mean... excuse me... besides being a lawyer... is he not a CONVICT too? And... Is he not proven throughout to be a fool? I mean... he's got verbal repartee like nobody... but being a Lawyer doesn't mark you as not being susceptable to a con.... far from it.
Another example was Holly Hunter moaning about her ring. This was just annoying.
Also, the portrayal of the South was not far away from being a Disney movie. Again, I know, screwball comedy, but still. I, a limey, would also complain that like Blood Simple, the accent's are so strong that sometimes I couldn't understand what people were saying.
However I don't want to be to down on it, because I realise it's not supposed to be Leaving Las Vegas, and there are some really funny scenes in it- most notably when GC's movements when he's singing the song the 2nd time and when the gang fall off the train at the beginning of the film. I would rate Oh brother, where art thou? as being 3.5 out of 5. Worth seeing, but disappointing compared to what has come before.
James R.
And in direct response to James R's review came this one from Tom Read who also saw the film at the same screening... THIS FILM WILL RULE PLANET EARTH!!!!
Hi Harry from the City of London,
Great site - been a fan for ages and only now can I add to the debate!
Just to add my thrupence worth (an olde english coin) on Oh, brother where art thou? I was extremely lucky to being lent a time-coded VHS copy not so long ago and, completely counter to James R from Edinburgh, absolutely loved this film.
If you are a Coen Brothers fan it fulfills all you could wish for - a great road movie with fantastic Coen characters, witty banter and some superb acting (chiefly Mr Clooney and leave Holly Hunter alone - she was excellent).
And to top it off a barnstorming show-stopper of a song that you will be guaranteed to be singing weeks later (and, as proof, it was the tune I woke up humming this morning) - I want that soundtrack!
As for Southern stereo types and plot incredulity's? Its a comedy based on an ancient story - jeez!
And as for it being no Leaving Las Vegas, well I can't argue - Oh, brother where art thou? made me laugh (I don't remember LLV being touted as a screw ball comedy).
By no means weak and by no means a disappointment - Harry you'll love it!
Cheers
Tom Read
