O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)****1/2

Who would have thought that an adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey set during the Great Depression and featuring blue grass music would be so damn entertaining. O Brother, Where Art Thou is the story of three chain gang escapees named Everett (George Clooney), Pete (John Turturro), and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) who are going after a treasure that Everett supposedly buried after a big bank heist. Along the way they get sidetracked numerous times by bedeviled blues man, sirens that turn them into toads, and fall into a gubernatorial election.

This film has a great story and a great film. The Coens are hit or miss for me usually, but this one is definitely a hit. The story is almost detached from its source material and feels like an Americana folk tale like Johnny Appleseed. It's a fun and quirky jaunt to ones goals that doesn't have a dull moment in the entire film.

The cinematography and direction are first rate. The sepia tones make it feel like an old, worn letter written in the 1930's. The film looks like it has gone on this journey, especially during the dust bowl scenes. It's not all glossy and fresh. It's old and worn like the country was during this era.

O Brother, Where Art Thou is one of those films that you just don't know about. It's premise doesn't sound like something most people would be into but once they digest they're in for a wonderful ride through Mississippi.