O Brother, Where Art Thou?
(2001) Directed and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen
When I heard that the Coen Brothers were setting Homer’s Odyssey in Depression-era Mississippi, I wasn’t sure what to think. I had never seen a Coen Brothers film before, though I was aware of their reputation. But it had George Clooney in it, and, hey, I can force myself to go see a George Clooney movie every now and again.
The truth is that from the first time I saw it in theaters, O Brother, Where Art Thou? became not only my favorite George Clooney film but one of my all-time favorite films. Everything in this movie works perfectly together, including the performances by Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Tuturro. John Goodman is perfectly cast as the Cyclops of the film, a one-eyed bible salesman, and there are even some Sirens thrown in to keep the story on its Odyssey adventure. The story is about three prisoners on a Mississippi chain gang (Clooney, Nelson, and Tuturro) who escape to embark on a treasure hunt that leads them through some odd adventures. The look of the film, the comedy of the film (which the three leads pull off with deadpan perfection), and, most importantly, the music of the film, all perfectly complement each other. And don’t forget Chris Thomas King, the innovative blues musician, who appears here as Tommy, who sells his soul to the devil so he could play his guitar.
As much as I love George Clooney, it’s the soundtrack that is the real star of this film. T-Bone Burnett creates a soundtrack that highlights the folk music of the 30s—blues, bluegrass, and gospel—and the music, performed by artists such as Alison Krauss, is the heart of the film and gives it a sense of place and time more than the costumes or the scenery. If you can watch O Brother, Where Art Thou? and not run out to buy the soundtrack, then you are strong indeed. I owned the soundtrack less than two hours after first seeing the film. In fact, it was watching this film and listening to the music that introduced me to bluegrass and folk music, and now I can’t imagine my life without them. Who knew that a movie could be such a music education?