O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

O Brother, Here Thou Art

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
A film review by Michael Redman
Copyright 2001 by Michael Redman

**** (out of ****)

After such a dismal year that "Castaway" is considered one of its best films, the release of a Coen Brothers film is certainly cause for celebration. Luckily for us, this one is near perfect.

No deep messages here, just a collection of hilarious episodes as Homer's "Odyssey" is overlaid on a tale of a thirties prison break in the deep south. Exactly what we need during the chilling gray days of January.

With a collection of actors including Holly Hunter, John Turturro, Charles Durning and John Goodman, it's surprising that George Clooney emerges as the stand-out. His comedic bits are masterful and his face so rubberized that at times he appears to be an animated character. This could be Clooney's break-out film.

There are so many surrealistic scenes (the Klan rally, the sirens, the Soggybottom Boys and more) that you'll sit slack-jawed during the entire film amazed that anyone would put these on the screen. And even more amazed that they work so spectacularly.

[This appeared in the 1/18/2001 "Bloomington Independent", Bloomington, Indiana. Michael Redman can be contacted at redman@bluemarble.net.] -- mailto:redman@bluemarble.net Film reviews archive: http://us.imdb.com/ReviewsBy?Michael+Redman