18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Required reading, December 30, 2000
This review is from: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Faber and Faber Screenplays) (Paperback)
I've been a fan of the Coens' movies for years and I do believe I've figured out a way to enjoy them more thoroughly: READ THE SCREENPLAY. There's no writing that's better in the movies right now. I'm not a film maker, I'm not a script writer, I'm not a director, I'm not an actor, I'm not a movie critic, I'm not even the damn guy who tears the ticket and stands behind that big velvet rope sayin' "To your right" or "To your left." All that I am is a fan of the movies as well as a fan of literature. These guys know how to make words create people and they do it well time after time.
Specifically "O Brother ..." is a screenplay that mixes Homer with Bluegrass with Old Movies with (whether the Coens know it or not) Mark Twain and folks along those lines. In fact, there's a scene in Huck Finn in which Huck states he'd prefer his dinner all cooked together in one pot so that the juices swap around and make things go better. That's a pretty good metaphor for "O Brother ..." Rather than the screenplay that's about hicks or racism or a woman scorned, the Coens mix it all up and believe me things go better that way.
This is the literature of our time. You should watch AND READ these movies.
teachem2@home.com
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Coens Are Truly Learning How To Write!, March 22, 2001
This review is from: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Faber and Faber Screenplays) (Paperback)
This is a fun and wacky screenplay to read! It really puts images into your mind that will make you laugh and wonder. I haven't even seen the movie yet, and I still was able to "get" the jokes and laughed a lot. Just think to yourself, "This is going to be a lot like Raising Arizona" and you'll figure it out.
Ranks right up there with the Coens' Fargo script, which is also a good read.
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