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Reviews:
Yet
another amazing feat from the Coens: O Brother, Where Art
Thou?
by
Christian De Matteo
HUGE
“As of September 11, 2000, and as of December 31st, 2000
barring the release of a film so massive in proportion that I am
physically unable to move after the credits roll, The
Way of the Gun is officially my vote for Movie of the Year.”
This above quote comes from my The Way of the Gun review written in September.
Little did I know that another film loomed on the horizon, slated
for release just before my ultimatum date that would astound me as much
as The Way of the Gun, but do
so in a way that couldn’t be more different than night from day.
Now, understand, I am not at all abandoning my opinion on The
Way of the Gun, but the Coen brothers have pulled off a miracle
again, and left me with a serious debate.
Movie of the year: O Brother, Where Art Thou? or The
Way of the Gun?
(Very) Loosely following Homer’s The
Odyssey, the story tells of the adventures of three oddball
chain-gang escapees and all the weirdoes and freaks they meet along the
way. Brilliantly quirky but
still realistic in a way that can only be written and directed by Ethan
and Joel Coen, the film moves from one smart laugh fest to another.
George Clooney (From Dusk till Dawn, The Perfect Storm), an actor I have a great
deal of respect for because of his obvious respect for the craft, does a
great job of playing a southern slick boy who acts smarter than he is,
but ain’t quite all that
dumb. John Turturro (Rounders, Barton Fink), an actor I’ve previously said is one who
consistently amazes me, also does a great southern accent and is a
character completely different than he’s ever been before. Then there’s a newcomer, playing a sort of depression era
Donnie (Steve Buscemi’s character in The
Big Lebowski), but not really the same character. While he might be the Donnie of the group, he’s still an
entirely new character and Tim Blake Nelson (The
Thin Red Line, Donnie Brasco) does a fantastic job with the role.
As for the people they meet, the Coens have plenty of friends to
cast in the quirky parts. John
Goodman (Bringing Out the Dead, The Big Lebowski) is hysterical as a one-eyed
“bible salesman” and Stephen Root (Office
Space, TV’s NewsRadio)
does a great job as the screwy-eyed owner of the radio station where the
Soggy Bottom Boys cut their hit recor.
Yes, there is a lot of “eyes” going on here, but that’s a
warning to pay attention to everything.
Some of the more subtle gags are the funniest.
And, of course, no Odyssey
spoof would be complete without the Sirens.
According to Homer, the Sirens were three beautiful women who
could make ships crash by distracting the sea men with their haunting
song and wondrous looks. Boy, do the Coen’s
capture this. The
Sirens may very well be the greatest scene of the movie, as mesmerizing
to the viewer as to the heroes.
But what are the Sirens singing?
Bluegrass music. The
entire, very important soundtrack, is bluegrass, down home traditional
blues, gospel and foot stompin’ music.
Music is another very important component to the film.
All and all the movie is probably the funniest thing to come out
this year, and while it doesn’t quite reach the Big
Lebowski rung in my mind, it’s right their breathing on its heels.
I can’t wait to see it again, and everyone should see it right
away. Proving their
flexibility as always, the Coens have produced a PG-13 movie, 100% less
vulgar and profane than their last brainchild, and it’s every bit as
good as it is different.
Few people would I give the full-on title of creative-genius to,
but the Coens win it over and over again.
Their films are what films should be:
fun, brilliant, challenging and outrageous in very real ways.
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