Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
George Clooney | ... | Everett | |
John Turturro | ... | Pete Hogwallop | |
Tim Blake Nelson | ... | Delmar O'Donnell | |
John Goodman | ... | Big Dan Teague | |
Holly Hunter | ... | Penny | |
Chris Thomas King | ... | Tommy Johnson | |
Charles Durning | ... | Pappy O'Daniel | |
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Del Pentecost | ... | Junior O'Daniel |
Michael Badalucco | ... | George Nelson | |
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J.R. Horne | ... | Pappy's Staff |
Brian Reddy | ... | Pappy's Staff | |
Wayne Duvall | ... | Homer Stokes | |
Ed Gale | ... | The Little Man | |
Ray McKinnon | ... | Vernon T. Waldrip | |
Daniel von Bargen | ... | Sheriff Cooley (as Daniel Von Bargen) |
Loosely based on Homer's "Odyssey," the movie deals with the picaresque adventures of Ulysses Everett McGill and his companions Delmar and Pete in 1930s Mississipi. Sprung from a chain gang and trying to reach Everett's home to recover the buried loot of a bank heist they are confronted by a series of strange characters--among them sirens, a cyclops, bank robber George "Baby Face" Nelson (very annoyed by that nickname), a campaigning governor and his opponent, a KKK lynch mob, and a blind prophet who warns the trio that "the treasure you seek shall not be the treasure you find." Written by Armin Ortmann <armin@sfb288.math.tu-berlin.de>
Thank goodness for the Coen Brothers. Their success has brought them bigger budgets,but hasn't rid them of their creativity. I had planned on seeing another movie, but it was sold out so I went to this one instead. By the time it began, I had forgotten what movie I was there to see. I was surprised in more ways than one. This movie is hilarious, but they don't make any cheap jokes just to get the laughs. The writing is brilliant, and delivered with great skill by George Clooney (after this, nobody can say he's just a pretty face) and the rest of the cast. It can be appreciated on many levels, whether you remember the Odyssey or not. I can't remember the last time I saw a movie that was this clever. I've seen others I would describe as beautiful, intriguing, funny and charming, all of which also describe "Oh Brother," but this movie reminded me of older seinfeld episodes where all the subplots came together in the end. You can feel that their journey is building up to something, but you can't tell what. And the Coen brothers do not fail us, the end is certainly not disappointing. It's surprising, and ties up all the loose ends neatly, without wearing the story out.