O Brother, Where Art Thou?

O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a comedy set in the 1930s that follows the adventures of three escaped convicts, was the last of my weekend movies. This movie definitely fell into the category of a movie I did not anticipate liking very much. The film, however, was truly a pleasant surprise! The film is based loosely on the story The Odyssey by Homer, and I was amazed all these years after reading that book for an AP class in high school, that I recognized as many moments from the book as I did. This film would be a great addition to a class where the book is being taught - a nice lighthearted way to end a classes' study of The Odyssey.

The direction by Joel Coen is snappy and keeps the story moving along nicely. The music, though not my druthers, is surprisingly entertaining. I can understand how the soundtrack enjoyed success on the Billboard charts back in 2001. And, finally, the acting is really good all-around. I was especially impressed with George Clooney, who seemed like he might be an odd fit in a movie of this nature. Instead I found his portrayal of his character, as both a bit of a know-it-all and at the same time someone still searching for what he wants in life, to be very engaging.

This movie shined in just about every aspect. I highly recommend it!