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O Brother Where Art Thou (Patreon)

Published:
2023-11-04 12:00:04
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Go to this site: Cinebingers.ca for the unedited versions of all our content.

👉 https://cinebingers.ca/t7XwXTmzp9 👈 for the full reaction where you do not need your own copy.

👉 https://cinebingers.ca/ugx2YGReq6 👈for the full reaction where you need your own copy.

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Movie runtime: 1:47:09

Files

Previews only

O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Canadian First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Review | Commentary

Full length/Unedited: https://www.patreon.com/Cinebinge https://www.instagram.com/cinebingechannel/ Merch: https://www.cinebinge.ca BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/cinebinge.bsky.social Simone & George are reacting to O Brother Where Art Thou for the first time! Canadians React! 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - O Brother, Where Art Thou? 28:17 - Discussion Subscribe | Like | Share | Comment Early Access & Full Reaction available on Patreon! #moviereaction #moviereview #georgeclooney Instagram: @cinebingechannel Instagram: @simone.swan Movie Reactions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1ts9cZbHakYDfILlxWOp8Rwm60i6s31 The Witcher Reactions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1ts9cZbHakPpBOOSyThaEu9GBs7h5af Squid Games Reaction: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1ts9cZbHakSIA0kJIJkUmcxmms0m_Q0 Band of Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1ts9cZbHanBD7cksu-blgCyxZOJrgT0 Blind Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1ts9cZbHan3qPNF7wNbOvo653VjhxOR

Comments

Daniel Dunn Jr

Okay, not even a few minutes in and I love Simone’s inadvertent foreshadowing calling the prison outfits “old timey.” I guess they’re steeped in old timey material.

Pam Nail

*Very* loosely based on The Odyssey. Apparently, the Coen brothers didn't even reread it before writing the script, just relying on what they remembered (and likely including elements from other stories by accident).

Rachel W

They need to see the Coen Bro's brilliant, "Miller's Crossing". "Raising Arizona", too.

Byron

Movies that tell Greek stories in modern way: Maybe “Mighty Aphrodite”? It’s only an ok film and it’s Woody Allen, so …. BUT Mira Sorvino is very good in it

JBK405

George you're correct that Poseidon was the main obstacle getting home, and you're also correct that the pursuing sheriff isn't particularly Poseidon-y. The term "Papist" did refer to Roman Catholics. It was a three-fold hate on the part of the KKK: Anti-immigrant sentiment in general, anti-Irish and anti-Italian sentiment in particular, and also the belief that Catholics "obey" the Pope as a direct ruler and therefore are a direct threat to American Freedom. That last part actually lasted into the second half of the 20th century, as when JFK was running for President in the '60s a lot was made about "What if the Pope told him to do something?" It's even STILL lingering today, as you'll occasionally find news articles about Joe Biden saying "He'll HAVE to support XXX or YYY because that's what the Catholic Church says..." There's a thousand-and-one interpretations of who each character corresponds to, but there's a few "standard" interpretations: Ulysses is obviously Odysseus, and his two friends represent "the crew" as opposed to any specific characters. Ulysses wife is Penelope, with her new fiance representing "the suitors". The blind railroad man IS Tiresias, and when you got that my jaw dropped (I re-read the Odyssey last year and I completely forgot about Tiresias). The governor may be named "Menelaus", but he represents Zeus since he is the one at the end who pardons the crew and says that they are allowed to remain home. The blind record producer/station manager is Homer, since he's the one who gets their story out to the people (Although the opposing candidate in the KKK is named "Homer"). The three sirens being Sirens, and the one-eyed man being the Cyclops, are obvious enough. Tommy Johnson isn't based on a mythological figure. He's based on a real-life blues musician also named Tommy Johnson, who was reputed to have sold his soul to the devil for his talent (The same story is told about multiple blues artists from the '20s and '30s).

Pam Nail

The only other movie I can think of that tells a classic Greek story in a more modern time period is the French film ORPHEUS (1950), obviously based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Incidentally, there's also a stage musical that's a modern retelling of the Orpheus myth, called "Hadestown."

Kirk Sloan

The Coen's admitted to not having read The Odyssey other than a comic book version.

Mark McConnell

Hey George…NERD!!! 😂 Just kidding. Absolutely love this movie!! The soundtrack was very frequently played for about 5 years on my commute to work and I still turn it on occasionally even today. Btw, Tim Blake Nelson sang his own vocals for In the Jailhouse.

JakeyShakeyBakeyBoy

Chain gangs used to smash rocks and roadsides as a way of getting them to repay a contribution to society…. But I doubt there were any of them in the Odyssey lol Also “bona-fide” means authentic, genuine. Kinda like how we use “fair dinkum” down under in Australia :)

ChickensAreRacist

Great movie, just started and it’s a doozy of a reaction. Simone’s reacting to the movie and George seeks the parallels between the movie and the book.

Onikaze

Thank you Thank you Thank you!! I suggested this many moons ago, along with some other Coen Bros movies like Miller's Crossing. I am very much looking forward to see how both of you like this.

Onikaze

As far as other movies that tell a modern interpretation of an old story, Last Man Standing, is a retelling of Yojimbo set in the prohibition era along the lines of how High Plains Drifter was also a retelling but in the cowboy era. Men of Respect, starring John Tutoro is a mob version of Macbeth. ON the Shakespeare note. Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliette and Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing are both ~"line for line" adaptations of each play respectively in very different styles.

Hexon66

Seriously disappointed that the thumbnail didn't have Simone and George in the Soggy Bottom Boys beards.😉

Hexon66
>>121421422

Yeah, George's analysis was actually quite interesting. I doubt many reactors (at least those who've done this film) have even read The Odyssey. I feared at times it may have taken him away from just purely enjoying the film, though.

Jeff K
>>121415173

Yep, came to the comments to note that. So while a lot of the connections George was making were great and accurate, it's important to note that not everything is a 1 to 1 adaptation, obviously.

Jeff K
>>121417496

EDIT: Don't listen to me, apparently I've been living a lie all these years and none of the following is accurate. But, not deleting it because I don't wanna be That Guy. Just one quick correction: Tommy Johnson is based on Robert Johnson. I'm honestly not sure why they didn't just call him by the real guy's name. Also, I was wondering if either George or Simone would have recognized The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks when they made the movie) as the Sirens.

Elder Lyons
>>121419540

i think she was asking why they were smashing rocks on road sides in that what is it for, not why theyre doing it as punishment.

JoeE

The movie title comes from Sullivan Travels. It’s the title of an “seriuos” movie the director in that film wants to make

dys

In most US states the governor can in fact pardon someone unless they were convicted of federal crimes, even today. It probably has to be a little more official than just saying it on a stage but they do have that power.

Jobbe Smit

There quite a few retellings of old stories, Lion King comes to mind :P Some other solid retellings: Bridget Jones's Diary, Clueless and The Dark Knight Rises. Which are all based on reasonably old literary works. Nothing remotely close to the Greek classics of course.

JoeE

Papists are Catholics

Aaron M

I've watched this movie several times but only caught a fraction of the references. Thanks for the explanation of the parallels with the Odyssey, it makes me appreciate this movie so much more.

Wrencher86

"We ain't got a radio" is a line reading that is perpetually kicking around in my head. It's a great read by the actor and a pretty bad-ass, if villainous, dismissal of their pleas for forgiveness. That actor is also in Super Troopers, which I highly recommend for any future comedy polls. Funny, endlessly quotable and lightning-in-a-bottle level chemistry between the whole cast.

Sandu Bogi Nasse

While maybe not quite what you were looking for, there are a couple of modern retellings using the original words of Shakespeare. The one I most like is Coriolanus from 2011.

Happy Hanukkah

[waves energetically] Right here! Yoohoo! Here!!! [Sigh.] I don't get no respect...

Happy Hanukkah
>>121434182

That's certainly the old definition, but is it still true today? (Is the Pope (Francis) Catholic?) :-) :-P

Happy Hanukkah
>>121442104

"Teddy?" Hmm, how often is Simone's opening relevant to the actual movie? Regarding chain gangs, quoting "Matt Jacobs" on Quora: "The old stereotype of prisoners breaking rocks came from prison systems in proto-UK Britain that made use of convict labor. The rock breaking was part of the production of stone for building purposes as well as being converted into gravel used for road or later railway construction. This was also popular in the United States which kept the concept after splitting from Britain as well as implementing groups called chain gangs who were chained together limiting their mobility so they could be used for menial labor. There was also another aspect of this. At the times when these practices were popular it was believed that hard labor could help with rehabilitation. Specifically being worked hard would leave prisoners too exhausted to fight each other or the jailers and too demoralized to consider escaping." I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not sure I had ever realized that was Stephen Root. "But Jimmy has fancy pants! And plans to match."

Darin Foat

At 12:17 the woman who wants to buy a Soggy Bottom Boys record is Gillian Welch, who sings on several tracks in the movie. Most notably she's the singing voice of one of the Sirens, along with Alison Krause and Emmylou Harris.

Justin Koch

I cant find anywhere to watch this online. No streaming service has it?

UnSafeStu

The only modern adaptation I know, is not Greek but from Shakespeare, which is pretty common. 10 Things I Hate About You is a modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew. There's probably hundreds of them but they just don't advertise it.

Andrew

This is my dad's favorite movie. We watch it every Christmas when I go visit him. "WE THOUGHT YOU WAS A TOAD!"

Andrew

Also, George, if you want another awesome movie based on mythology, check out "The 13th Warrior" with Antonio Banderas. It's a retelling of Beowulf. Seriously under appreciated movie.

Happy Hanukkah
>>121459023

Directed by John McTiernan (Predator, Die Hard, Hunt for Red October) and Michael Crichton (long story). You synonymized your way out :-), but it's the movie most often referred to as "underrated," and justly so.

Matt Gwinn

I can't think of any other movies based on Greek mythology, but 10 Things I Hate About You is a modern adaptation of Taming of the Shrew.

Nick Parker

"Miscegenation" means the mixing of ethnicity. So racists are often concerned by black people and white people producing children together.

JoeNotCharles

The best loose retelling/parody of Shakespeare in a modern setting is the Bob and Doug McKenzie movie, Strange Brew. But the best non-parody loose retelling of Shakespeare is Forbidden Planet, based on The Tempest if it was on another planet instead of an island (and a major inspiration for Star Trek).

Happy Hanukkah

Speaking of adapting old stories, here is the WW1 poem "The Parable of the Old Man and the Young" by Wilfred Owen, in honour of Remembrance Day: So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went, And took the fire with him, and a knife. And as they sojourned both of them together, Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father, Behold the preparations, fire and iron, But where the lamb for this burnt-offering? Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps, and builded parapets and trenches there, And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son. When lo! an angel called him out of heaven, Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, Neither do anything to him. Behold, A ram, caught in a thicket by its horns; Offer the Ram of Pride instead of him. But the old man would not so, but slew his son, And half the seed of Europe, one by one.

MPH

Movies like this are why I'm such a snob. How can we tolerate so much Marvel trash when we know movies can be this good. I love the Coen brothers. Hardly a unique take, I know, but almost everything they've made is gold.

Jesus F Christ
>>121441187

I love that movie, and it's a shame that so few people have seen it. It's one of Ralph Fiennes best performances. Another Shakespeare retelling in that same vein is Richard III (1995) with Ian McKellen in the title role. They moved the setting from 15th century England to late 1930s fascist Europe, with McKellen as a sort of Franco/Mussolini/Hitler analog.

Emma Jensen

This movie is so good, my family is a big fan of the Coen brothers, and the soundtrack was a staple in our house and came with us for many road-trips. Odd connection, but with you guys mentioning Catholics, I would recommend you watch Spotlight, but on your own. It wouldn’t be a good reaction because of the heavy subject matter and it’s a slow burn, but it’s a compelling movie, and one of George’s favorite genres - competent people doing their job really well.

Happy Hanukkah
>>121475401

Without wishing to [ahem] steal your spotlight, I'll use the Catholic focus to recommend The Name of the Rose (1986). (Who could have imagined "pairing" Sean Connery and Umberto Eco?!)

Mister Forbez

Raising Arizona. Classic Coen brothers comedy with Holly Hunter, Nicolas Cage, and John Goodman.

Thirty Year Old Mulberry Field
>>121430713

Actual example of this, and I assume the possible inspiration for this moment in the movie, American songwriter Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter was doing a stint in a Texas prison in 1924 when he sang a ballad for then Gov. Pat Neff for a pardon, who granted it a year later as one of his final acts in office.