Search - O Brother, Where Art Thou? on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Humor Movie Release: 2000 DVD Release: 06/12/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 43 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Comedy, Crime, Road Movie, Americana, Crime Comedy, Buddy Film

The writing, directing, and producing team of Joel Coen and Ethan Coen created this picaresque comedy (inspired in part by Homer's The Odyssey) set in the Deep South during the Depression. Suave and fancy-talking Everett Ulysses McGill (George Clooney), dim-witted Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson), and easily-excitable Pete (John Turturro) are serving time together on a prison chain gang. Everett knows where $1.2 million is hidden that's theirs for the taking, and the three manage to escape; however, a stranger soon warns them that they'll find treasure, but not the sort they're looking for. As Everett and his partners hit the road, they happen upon a gluttonous bible salesman, Big Dan Teague (John Goodman); meet up with Baby Face Nelson (Michael Badalucco) as he robs a bank; encounter three Sirens doing their washing; run into Everett's estranged wife Penny (Holly Hunter), who has told everyone her husband was killed in a train wreck; find themselves in the middle of a heated campaign between political boss Pappy O'Daniel (Charles Durning), and reformist candidate Homer Stokes (Wayne Duvall); and even find time to make a hit record as The Soggy Bottom Boys. Noted songwriter T-Bone Burnett helped compile the songs (combining vintage country blues tunes with originals in the same style), while Carter Burwell composed the background score. Incidentally, the title O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a reference to the classic Preston Sturges comedy Sullivan's Travels, in which a director plans to make a serious "message picture" with that name. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

George Clooney - Everett Ulysses McGill
John Turturro - Pete
Tim Blake Nelson - Delmar
Charles Durning - Pappy O'Daniel
John Goodman - Big Dan Teague

For viewers who find that the picture and sound are more important than supplemental material, this DVD will suit them just fine. The dry, sepia tone look of the film is reproduced perfectly on this disc. Colors are purposely muted, but the image quality doesn't suffer at all. As a matter of fact, the lack of color might even help this already excellent transfer, which doesn't have a single distracting element. The movie is presented, as it was in theaters, with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and is anamorphic for widescreen televisions. The sound, utilizing both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 soundtracks, is equally good. While generally centered up front, with dialogue that is clear and distortion-free, there is some limited use of the surrounds. Also included are subtitles in Spanish and closed-captions in English. Unfortunately the disc falls a little short with regard to extra material. The few extras it has are relatively weak. There are three individual featurettes, though each is very brief. The first is called "Painting With Pixels" and looks at the work of digitally changing the colors to achieve the specific effect that filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen were trying to achieve. The second is a too short, behind-the-scenes glance at making the film, including some interviews. It fails to be more than a glorified fluff piece. Finally, there is a comparison between storyboards and the final film of two scenes -- the flood and the Klan rally. Considering the use of music in this film, a real plus is the music video for the song "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow". Rounding things off is the theatrical trailer. Certainly not the most exciting disc, but fans of this film shouldn't be disappointed with what is offered. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide