O Brother Where Art Thou?

views updated

O Brother Where Art Thou? ★★½ 2000 (PG-13)

Clooney stars as chain gang escapee Ulysses Everett McGill, who, along with fellow escapees Pete and Delmar (Turturro and Nelson), sets out on an “Odyssey”-like journey through Depressionera Mississippi bound for home, where waits McGill's wife, Penny (Hunter). What the trio encounter along the way are a number of Coenesque situations and characters that, when all is said and done, seem like just that—individual situations that never really add up to a cohesive whole. They fit well enough to comprise a pretty enjoyable film, though. Fine performances by Clooney, Nelson, and Coen regulars Goodman and Turturro. 103m/C VHS, DVD . George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Charles Durning, Del Pentacost, Michael Badalucco, Brian Reddy, Wayne Duvall, Ed Gale, Ray McKinnon, Daniel von Bargen, Royce D. Applegate, Frank Collison, Lee Weaver, Stephen (Steve) Root, Musetta Vander, Chris Thomas King, Mia Tyler, Christy Taylor; D: Joel Coen; W: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen; C: Roger Deakins; M: T-Bone Burnett, Chris Thomas King, Carter Burwell. Golden Globes ‘01: Actor—Mus./Comedy (Clooney).