I really, really enjoyed this movie. It had been a long time since I'd left a movie theater feeling really good as a result of what I'd just watched, but such was the case with "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" I know a lot of critics didn't appreciate this film, saying, among other things, that it was silly, had a thin plot, or didn't make sense. It also seems that a lot of critics feel a film must have deep social relevance or a "powerful" message to be worthwhile. I myself do not feel this way. Movies, after all, were created as entertainment - a diversion, to make people forget about their own humdrum, sometimes dreary lives.
Above all else, I think movies are meant to make people feel good. And what struck me most about "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" was the sense of joy - yes, joy - that permeated the entire film. The music was transcendent, and the performances floored me. With every role, George Clooney rises in my estimation; Everett was a glorious creature, and this was thanks largely to his portrayer. John Turturro, as far as I can recall, has never given a single bad performance; I count him among the most wonderful actors of his generation. And Tim Blake Nelson - always more active behind the camera than in front of it - was a pure delight, often stealing the show from the two cinematic giants he shared the spotlight with.
But I keep returning to the joy. Perhaps there wasn't all that much to this movie, but I was transfixed nonetheless. I was behind Everett, Pete, and Delmar the whole way, just because they were so much fun to root for. I applaud Joel and Ethan Coen for making movies simply for the love of movies (I think this film, as much as any of their others, shows that to be the case) - in other words, for the joy of it. This was unquestionably the best film I have seen in a long time, and its simplicity, lack of pretense, and happy-go-lucky tone all played large parts in that. These days especially, pure whimsy should be cherished in the movies - after all, there's so little of it left.
Above all else, I think movies are meant to make people feel good. And what struck me most about "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" was the sense of joy - yes, joy - that permeated the entire film. The music was transcendent, and the performances floored me. With every role, George Clooney rises in my estimation; Everett was a glorious creature, and this was thanks largely to his portrayer. John Turturro, as far as I can recall, has never given a single bad performance; I count him among the most wonderful actors of his generation. And Tim Blake Nelson - always more active behind the camera than in front of it - was a pure delight, often stealing the show from the two cinematic giants he shared the spotlight with.
But I keep returning to the joy. Perhaps there wasn't all that much to this movie, but I was transfixed nonetheless. I was behind Everett, Pete, and Delmar the whole way, just because they were so much fun to root for. I applaud Joel and Ethan Coen for making movies simply for the love of movies (I think this film, as much as any of their others, shows that to be the case) - in other words, for the joy of it. This was unquestionably the best film I have seen in a long time, and its simplicity, lack of pretense, and happy-go-lucky tone all played large parts in that. These days especially, pure whimsy should be cherished in the movies - after all, there's so little of it left.