O Brother Where Art Thou
Comedy, Crime
Disney / Buena Vista  (2000) 103 mins PG-13

7.8 (77,752 votes)
Disenchanted with the daily drudge of crushing rocks on a prison farm in Mississippi, the dapper, silver-tongued Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney, The Perfect Storm) busts loose. Except he's shackled to his two chain-mates from the chain gang - bad tempered Pete (John Turturro, Summer of Sam) and sweet, dimwitted Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson, Hamlet). With nothing to lose and buried loot to regain - before it is lost forever in a flood - the three embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this hilarious offbeat road picture. Populated with strange characters, including a blind prophet, sexy sirens and a one-eyed Bible salesman (John Goodman, Coyote Ugly), it's an odyssey filled with chases, close calls, near misses and betrayal that will leave you laughing at every outrageous and surprising twist and turn....

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Cast and Crew
John Turturro  ......  Pete
George Clooney  ......  Everett
John Goodman  ......  Big Dan Teague
Charles Durning  ......  Pappy O'Daniel
Holly Hunter  ......  Penny
Tim Blake Nelson  ......  Delmar
Director  .....  Joel Coen; Ethan Coen
Producer  .....  Ethan Coen; Tim Bevan; John Cameron; Joel Coen
Writer  .....  Ethan Coen; Joel Coen; Homer
Notes
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: The group singing "Keep on the Sunny Side" at the rally is prominently accompanied by a Dobro (a resonator guitar) being played with a slide... but there is none to be seen. There are other people on stage, but it becomes clear that none of them has an instrument. (more)

Trivia:
In addition to the KKK scene, there is another overt homage to The Wizard of Oz (1939). Governor Pappy O'Daniel's pardon speech is reminiscent of the Wizard's farewell speech to Oz. The travelers' long winding journey has come to an end. The wise, portly ruler of the land decrees in front of a large audience that the travelers will help rule the land going forward. (more)

Filming Locations:
Canton, Mississippi, USA (more)

Quotes:
[first lines]
Ulysses Everett McGill: Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?
(more)

Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 29 nominations (more)