O' Brother Where Art Thou?

[Trekker4747]

My favorite Cohen Bros flick and one of my all time favs. I even love the soundtrack and I hate county music with a firey passion.

It's not really "country music" though so much as it's just a bluegrassian soul music.

I beg to differ, it IS country music. But I can understand how you might not see it that way. It bears no resemblance to the stuff they play today that's called country.

Well, I've even heard some much older country music (stuff from the 60s) and I'd hardly say the music in OBWAT fits any modern definition of "country music."

Still a lovely, wonderful, movie. The Lotus Eaters/Baptism scene I really like.

 

[gh4chiefs]

MODERN definition. My point exactly. The music of O'Brother, with perhaps one or two exceptions, is country music at it roots. For example, the song "Keep on the Sunny Side" was originally recorded (and probably written/copyrighted) by the Carter family in 1930's. The Carter family was early pioneers in comercially record country music.

They also used the original recording of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" by Harry McClintock that was recorded in late 30's. Most of the music was either country or gospel music of the era the movie was set in.

Commerically recorded county music predates the 60's by at least 30 years.

 

[Kelso]

One hundred percent agreement. A favourite flick, and a great soundtrack.

From the Not Many People Know That Dept.: This is adapted from the Odyssey, but I (and a few others, like Kim Newman) think it was inspired by the Howard Waldrop story based on the 12 Labours of Hercules, called 'A Dozen Tough Jobs'. Same setting, the South in the 20s, and the same approach to the material. Very funny story and worth tracking down. I think that's one of the reasons Penny's suitor is called Waldrip.

Damn, I gotta go watch it now!

Inspiration was also drawn from Sullivan's Travels.

I just added "The Big Lebowski" to my Netflix queue, I hope it's good. I do have to say "Hudsucker Proxy" turned out to be good, and I didn't have a good feeling about it to start.

You're in for a treat.

Gimme the ringer, Dude! Chop-chop!

 

[exodus]

Odyessus= George Clooney
Penelope= Holly Hunter
The Lotus Eaters= the Baptist Choir
Circe & the Sirens= Wash Woman in the River
Cyclops= John Goodman
Tiresias= The Blind Man


Who was Baby Face Nelson?

Did he represent Poseidon?

 

[Trekker4747]

Pete parallels Eurylochus.

 

[exodus]

Pete parallels Eurylochus.

Right!