Post by klep on Feb 8, 2016 7:39:10 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 2/8: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
We've talked before about the Coen brothers' morality in their filmmaking, but in O Brother, Where Art Thou? we see it perhaps more clearly than in any of their other films. Our protagonists are introduced escaping a prison chain gang, in search of freedom and treasure. It swiftly becomes apparent that their journey is not going to be an easy one. Instead it will be an Homeric odyssey (in some places nearly literally) full of both the drama and absurdist humor we've come to expect from the Coen brothers. These trials are a consequence of the sins they commited which ended up with them fleeing their imprisonment.
Early on they encounter a congregation heading down to a river for baptisms, and both Pete and Delmar decide to be cleansed of their sins. But Everett notably does not. He stays out of the water (both cynical of religion and afraid to muss his hair), and so he is not redeemed. Thus, the suffering and trials must continue. They hitch a ride with a lunatic, they get waylaid by sirens and a cyclops, one of their number is temporarily recaptured, and so on. It isn't until after Everett both confesses his sins to his friends and finally falls to his knees and prays for redemption that they are truly saved, with the Lord sending a mighty flood to deliver them from evil.
In particular it's worth noting that just about all the sins the trio commit after Delmar and Pete receive their redemption are led by Everett. He steals a car and the others go along with it. He leads the con of the radio man to get some extra money from him. He steals the pie (for which Delmar leaves some money). But there is one thing that I'm still puzzling over. Pete is the one of the three who deals with the greatest trial, being recaptured and sent back to the chain gang until by happenstance he crosses paths with Everett and Delmar again. What was it he did to earn that additional grief?
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 2/15: It's Such A Beautiful Day
Our next Movie of the Week is the (thus far) only feature-length project from current Oscar nominee Don Hertzfeldt, the 60 minute version of It's Such A Beautiful Day. It is available on Netflix Instant and for rental on Amazon Instant Video (though it is not free for Prime members).
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 2/4: The Martian
On Wednesday we'll discuss this recent hit in conjunction with the most recent Next Picture Show podcast. It is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video (though it is not free for Prime members).
We've talked before about the Coen brothers' morality in their filmmaking, but in O Brother, Where Art Thou? we see it perhaps more clearly than in any of their other films. Our protagonists are introduced escaping a prison chain gang, in search of freedom and treasure. It swiftly becomes apparent that their journey is not going to be an easy one. Instead it will be an Homeric odyssey (in some places nearly literally) full of both the drama and absurdist humor we've come to expect from the Coen brothers. These trials are a consequence of the sins they commited which ended up with them fleeing their imprisonment.
Early on they encounter a congregation heading down to a river for baptisms, and both Pete and Delmar decide to be cleansed of their sins. But Everett notably does not. He stays out of the water (both cynical of religion and afraid to muss his hair), and so he is not redeemed. Thus, the suffering and trials must continue. They hitch a ride with a lunatic, they get waylaid by sirens and a cyclops, one of their number is temporarily recaptured, and so on. It isn't until after Everett both confesses his sins to his friends and finally falls to his knees and prays for redemption that they are truly saved, with the Lord sending a mighty flood to deliver them from evil.
In particular it's worth noting that just about all the sins the trio commit after Delmar and Pete receive their redemption are led by Everett. He steals a car and the others go along with it. He leads the con of the radio man to get some extra money from him. He steals the pie (for which Delmar leaves some money). But there is one thing that I'm still puzzling over. Pete is the one of the three who deals with the greatest trial, being recaptured and sent back to the chain gang until by happenstance he crosses paths with Everett and Delmar again. What was it he did to earn that additional grief?
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 2/15: It's Such A Beautiful Day
Our next Movie of the Week is the (thus far) only feature-length project from current Oscar nominee Don Hertzfeldt, the 60 minute version of It's Such A Beautiful Day. It is available on Netflix Instant and for rental on Amazon Instant Video (though it is not free for Prime members).
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 2/4: The Martian
On Wednesday we'll discuss this recent hit in conjunction with the most recent Next Picture Show podcast. It is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video (though it is not free for Prime members).