Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, Is a 1930’s (great depression) view of Homer’s The Odyssey. This 2000 film recreates the Greek Tragedy through protagonist Everett McGill, as Odysseus himself. McGill similarly faces his own trials while seeking to be reunited with his wife and children. Along with the pronounce Odysseus references, the filmmakers used more subtle cinematography and music to temper the characters relations with Odysseus. My focus is on one of the less obvious, but still very relevant Odyssey references. Throughout the movie the relentless Sheriff Cooley played by Daniel Von Bargen has chased Everett through Mississippi. Cooley seems to have some unjustified vendetta against Everett, and his two comrades Pete Hogwallop and Delmar O’Donnell. Sheriff Cooley seems to go above and beyond the call of duty in his quest to bring Everett and the boys to what he sees as justice. I found a strong correlation between Sheriff Cooley and Poseidon, in the two stories. In The Odyssey, Poseidon, the God of the Sea, is angry with Odysseus because he has mocked, Polyphemos his Cyclops son, played in the movie as Big Dan Teague, or Big Dan T, or Big Dan. Poseidon curses Odysseus to a long and tragic journey, similar to the sheriff’s relentless pursuit of Everett.
What stood out even more was the use of cinematography, in all of the shots with Sheriff Cooley. The first two shots were of the Sheriff and the search party cornering Everett and company in a barn late at night, the only lighting was that of their torches. Cooley’s voice enters before he does, and as he walks into view the fire is reflected in his black frame glasses. The next sheriff Cooley scene similarly utilizes his fire filled frames, and deep godly voice as a means of symbolism. After watching these scenes it is unmistakable that these scenes are meant to symbolize something. I viewed the fire in his eyes, and deep voice as a reference to Poseidon. The flooding of the Mississippi valley could have also been meant to reference the sea god taking vengeance upon Everett.
In the beginning of the movie, after Pete and Delmar have been washed of their sins, they pick up a hitchhiker named Tommy Johnson, played by Chris Thomas King, who has sold his sole to the devil so we could play the guitar. Pete inquires to what the devil looks like, to which Tommy say, “He's white. As white as you folks. With empty eyes and a big, hollow voice. He travelled around with a mean old hound, that's right.” I interpreted Tommy’s depiction, as a reference to Sheriff Cooley’s character. The sheriff’s empty eyes being his black glasses, and the Sheriff uses a hound throughout his search for Everett.
While the references to Poseidon are subtle at best, the symbolism is unmistakably important to the movie. If not as Poseidon then possible, as one of the other Greek gods Odysseus meets during his travels.
In the beginning of the movie, after Pete and Delmar have been washed of their sins, they pick up a hitchhiker named Tommy Johnson, played by Chris Thomas King, who has sold his sole to the devil so we could play the guitar. Pete inquires to what the devil looks like, to which Tommy say, “He's white. As white as you folks. With empty eyes and a big, hollow voice. He travelled around with a mean old hound, that's right.” I interpreted Tommy’s depiction, as a reference to Sheriff Cooley’s character. The sheriff’s empty eyes being his black glasses, and the Sheriff uses a hound throughout his search for Everett.
While the references to Poseidon are subtle at best, the symbolism is unmistakably important to the movie. If not as Poseidon then possible, as one of the other Greek gods Odysseus meets during his travels.
References:
Homer, Robert Fagles, and Bernard Knox. The Odyssey. New York: Viking, 1996. Print.
"O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2/10) Movie CLIP - We're in a Tight Spot! (2000) HD." YouTube. YouTube, 27 May 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"O Brother, Where Art Thou?" IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"Sheriff Cooley." Villains Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"Warner Bros. Reimagines THE ODYSSEY in Space as Potential Franchise."Collider. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
Homer, Robert Fagles, and Bernard Knox. The Odyssey. New York: Viking, 1996. Print.
"O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2/10) Movie CLIP - We're in a Tight Spot! (2000) HD." YouTube. YouTube, 27 May 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"O Brother, Where Art Thou?" IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"Sheriff Cooley." Villains Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"Warner Bros. Reimagines THE ODYSSEY in Space as Potential Franchise."Collider. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.