The Film
The Coen Brothers use a kick-ass soundtrack and comedy to portray a Depression-era Mississippi in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Loosely based on Homer's Odyssey, Brother stars George Clooney who delivers a star-making turn as the fast-talking, Dapper-Dan-using Ulysses Everett McGill, who is clearly the least dopey of three dopey escapees from a chain gang.
McGill makes his big escape in an effort to reunite with his estranged, engaged wife (Holly Hunter). With fellow cons Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) in tow, the trio encounters a blind man, a bunch of sirens, a baptism, the KKK, and at least one toad. In between the adventures, they also become unwitting music stars, thanks to a chance recording of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" -- which became an off-screen hit as well.
Wedged in between the weirdness of The Big Lebowski and the less appreciated The Man Who Wasn't There, the Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou? was probably much better known for its soundtrack, which is a mixed tape of bluegrass, country, gospel, blues, and folk music. That said, it also snagged a pair of Oscar nominations (for the screenplay and cinematography), and is one of the Coen duo's funniest films to date.
The Picture
O Brother, Where Art Thou? opens with a little noise across the Mississippi sky. From there, however, the 2.35:1 transfer is downright gorgeous. It's doesn't have the brightest color palette, because it's not supposed to. Instead, there's a lot of sepia-tinted scenery, dingy clothing, and dirt. Black levels are wonderful and make that contrast really pop. This Blu-ray is one for the demo pile, displaying every nook and cranny of the background and the time period just perfectly.
The Sound
This film's soundtrack turned out to be a huge success -- more so than the movie. That is the real star of this release's DTS-HD Master Audio track. The music fills those rear speakers throughout the film, and it's an absolutely gorgeous affair. The instruments and the vocals really stand out, with a real richness and presence. All of the other sounds, from clanging chains to the loud trains to even the most minor squeaks, move nicely across the front speakers, but rarely venture out to the surrounds. The movie itself is not a real immersive experience, but the music makes up for that, because it really is a major part of the movie.
The Extras
O Brother, Where Art Thou? comes packing a small collection of special features. There's the theatrical trailer and a making-of short, which runs under 9 minutes. There are few tidbits about the movie in there, but it's pretty much your standard promo piece. There's also the option to check out "Storyboard to Scene Comparisons." Choose between two scenes from the movie, and you can flip between the actual film cut and original storyboards, or view them in a split screen. What's missing, of course, is something on the film's soundtrack -- and we're not counting the included music video for "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow."
Final Thoughts
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is one of the Coen Brothers' most memorable films, which says a lot. It's certainly a must-own for the music alone, let alone the engaging story and great acting. That said, a stellar audio and video presentation certainly doesn't hurt. We can't sing as many praises about the extras included here. However, that's incredibly nitpicky considering the film and the wonderful presentation that Disney has delivered in this Blu-ray.
Product Details
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