Just out of Hibernation, what did I miss? 3 reviews done and a list as big as my arm of ones to com...
Just out of Hibernation, what did I miss? 3 reviews done and a list as big as my arm of ones to come! I will read and rate as many as I can as I ease myself back into Ciao life.
Member since:21.05.2001
Reviews:44
Members who trust:74
You know the scene, Saturday Night standing in your local Video shop with your friends trying to get something you all want to watch. After about 10 minutes we decided to forget that and just find something, anything. About 20 minutes later we gave up and picked the only movie that sounded OK.
After such a unanimous decision we weren’t sure what to expect. I have read both good and bad reviews of this film, which left me confused. Add to that the fact that this is a Coen Brothers film! It was a big gamble, I personally love the Coen’s previous work, but some of my friends just don’t like that kind of movie. (The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Barton Fink)
So before I let you know how the night progressed, I’ll tell you a little more about the film.
>>>>Plot<<<<
I must admit that I had no idea that this film was based on Homer’s “Odyssey” (a poem), but looking back It makes sense, not that I know much about Homer’s work. Still it didn’t hamper my viewing of the film in any way.
It’s the Early 1900’s somewhere between 1920 and 1930 three member of a chain gang in Mississippi escape and set on a journey to reach a hidden treasure of 1.2 Million Dollars. Only the have to get there before it gets buried under water when the area is flooded to provide hydro-electric power to the state of Mississippi. The clock is ticking. Not to mention the fact that a sadistic warden
from the chain gang is in hot pursuit.
The three convicts in search of the hidden treasure are Ulysses Everett McGill (Clooney), Pete and Delmar O'Donnell.
Ulysses is the type of person who likes to hear himself talk. It is the treasure from previous theft of Ulysses that the convicts are chasing. Look out for Clooney in a hairnet, he’s a “Dapper Dan man”. Pete and Delmar are simple country folks who have some very odd ideas and outlooks on life.
Along the way the three meet a number of unusual people and get into some sticky situations. I don’t want to give too much away because not knowing what is around the next corner is important to this film. I will say though, Look out for the little man, the KKK and a Bible sales man.
>>>>Characters<<<<
Ulysses Everett McGill - George Clooney Pete - John Turturro Delmar O’Donnell - Tim Blake Nelson Big Dan T - John Goodman Penny Wharvey - Holly Hunter Tommy Johnson - Chris Thomas King The Little Man - Ed Gale
>>>>My Humble opinion<<<<
As I said earlier I didn’t quite know what to expect when I eventually got this film out to watch, but I can definitely say it was worth the gamble.
True the characters speak in a very deep American accent and at times it can get confusing, but that all adds to the comedy of it. This is one of the funniest films I have seen in a long time, but I do realise not everyone will think so. However, all the people I watched it with loved it, which I was not expecting, as we all have varied tastes in films.
The soundtrack to the film is very…. different. I guess it is very folk and country orientated as you may expect from a film set in Mississippi in the 1920’s. However, I really liked it, this is probably the first and last time I will ever admit to that. Listen to the song “A man of constant sorrows”, you can’t miss it and I’m sure you’ll like it.
Clooney was one of my biggest worries about this film, to be short, I would never of cast him in a comedy role. Just goes to show why I don’t get to work in Hollywood. George Clooney is absolutely fantastic and shows a real sense of humour and comic timing that I never would have associated with him. That said the whole cast put in some blinding performances and I can’t think of one character that damaged my enjoyment of the film. A special well done to Ed Gale for being the Little Man, that was fantastic.
>>>>Conclusion<<<<
Well as you can probably tell I love this film, the humour is very off the wall and yet has bits that will get almost everyone laughing. I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this film. However, there are many people who will not like this film. People who really love cows may be a little shocked at one scene!
If you are stuck for something to watch and you like a good laugh then this is a good film to consider. If you want something that will tax your brains a lot or satisfy your need for romance you may be best looking elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong this film contains elements of Romance, Action and maybe a bit of thinking too, but it is after all a comedy.
So I can’t say for sure whether you’ll like this film or not, but I can say that I certainly did.
>>>>A quote<<<<
Pete: Wait a minute. Who elected you leader of this outfit?
Ulysses: Well Pete, I figured it should be the one with the capacity for abstract thought. But if that ain't the consensus view, then hell, let's put it to a vote.
Pete: Suits me. I'm voting for yours truly.
Ulysses: Well I'm voting for yours truly too. [Ulysses and Pete look to Delmar for the deciding vote.]
Delmar: Okay... I'm with you fellas.
>>>>Another Quote<<<<
Ulysses: You ever been with a woman?
Delmar: I gotta get the family farm back before I start worrying about that.
>>>>Look out for<<<<
The lights over the doors in the cinema The bottles of beer on the picnic The mans Cigarette that Clooney pushes past to get to his daughters
And the dog at the end, the rest are errors, the dog is just plain funny.
Cheers, Rob
Just a quick addition, have a look at Http://www.soggybottomboys.com. Here you can watch the video of the great song from the film and there are links to the official site, they are Bona Fide!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
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Only Joel and Ethan Coen, masters of quirky and ultra-stylish genre subversion, would dare ... more
nick the plotline of Homer'sOdysseyforO Brother, Where Art Thou?, their comic picaresque saga about three cons on the run in 1930s Mississippi. Our wandering her...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Putting their own unique spin on Homer's classic Odyssey O Brother Where Art Thou is ... more
another Coen brothers classic. In a Golden Globe winning performance George Clooney plays Ulysses Everett McGill a silver-tongued petty criminal who finds himsel...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Putting their own unique modern-day spin on Homer's classic tale of 'The Odyssey', 'O ... more
Brother, Where Art Thou?' is another Coen Brothers' classic.Clooney plays Everett Ulysses McGill, a silver tongued, petty criminal who finds himself on the wrong end ...
Advantages: Excellent story by Ethan and Joel Cohn, brilliant characterizations, excellent soundtrack. Disadvantages: None ...unless you don't like this sort of movie
![O Brother, Where Art Thou? [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78537806.jpg "O Brother, Where Art Thou? [DVD] [2000]")
Jun 5th, 2001
(Jun 7th, 2001)
very helpful by (100%):
