# Who Found "Oh Brother Where Art Though?" Hilarious? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348 "2001-07-31T16:09:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/1 "2001-07-31T16:09:39Z")
Man, I just loved that movie. I thought clooney did a killer job. Actually, he reminded me of some of the people here on the straight dope message board with his intellect and logic. There were so many funny parts. Some of my favorite was when they were eating the stew from the hillbilly and he told them that it was from a horse that was starting to turn(the look on there faces and the fact the hillbilly didn’t care) just cracked me up. There song, of course, was awesome and funny. They looked like ZZ Top up there. Well am I the only one that thought this movie was awesome or did ya’ll like it too? And was some of ya’lls favorite parts? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/2 "2001-07-31T16:18:43Z")
I liked “Oh Brother” too. My wife REALLY liked it. Her favorite part (non-spoilers) was … “We though … YEW WUZ … a TOAD!” I thought Clooney’s ongoing obsession with Dapper Dan hair cream was funny, myself. As well as the delivery of his “But I’m the _pater familias_” line. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/3 "2001-07-31T16:22:04Z")
Ma Hair! Ma HAIR!! – even popping up out of a dead sleep, Clooney is worried about the coif. That was my favorite. Yes, very good movie. Bill, If you like that style of humor you should check out some of the Coen Brothers other movies – Fargo, Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, etc. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/4 "2001-07-31T16:22:57Z")
> [@](#): > > They looked like ZZ Top up there. That they did. The scene also reflects the disguised return of Odysseus (in Homer’s _Odyssey_). Much of the film is playful in the way it can be interpreted, just like your comment > [@](#): > > Actually, he reminded me of some of the people here on the straight dope message board with his intellect and logic. I liked Clooney too. My favorite part was his appeal to the smithing skills of the gentlemen on the train. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/5 "2001-07-31T16:47:35Z")
I liked the movie, but I thought the ending was a little silly. Did anyone else think it was weird that… **SPOILER** \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* …that anyone would be surprised that a politician in Louisiana in the 1940’s would be down with the Ku Klux Klan? Or that said politician would be scandalized by such an association? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/6 "2001-07-31T16:54:37Z")
I would nominate “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” as one of the perfect American movies. From the depression era life to the soundtrack, it’s just brilliant. I saw it for the second time last night (first time was last week) after having loved the soundtrack for months. Mrs Chance and I kicked back with a bottle of Raspberry wine and watched it (trust me, Raspberry wine is good for what ails you). It was her first time… “Damn! We’re in a tight spot!” “Kerr fer a gofer?” “The law is a human institution.” Brilliant. One of the best movies of all time. And yes, the bit with the three of them trying to get into the boxcar and McGill being pulled off the train is HILARIOUS! ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/7 "2001-07-31T16:56:38Z")
I just don’t think that’s Pete! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/8 "2001-07-31T16:59:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuautemhoc \* > \*\*I liked the movie, but I thought the ending was a little silly. Did anyone else think it was weird that anyone would be surprised that a politician in Louisiana in the 1940’s would be down with the Ku Klux Klan? Or that said politician would be scandalized by such an association? \*\* They were scandalized that he condemned the Soggy Bottom boys. I saw the flick 3 times, and never thought the crowd cared that he was exposed as a KKK member. Fantastic movie! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/9 "2001-07-31T17:04:23Z")
Yeah, he slammed the popular media and down he went! Teach him! “You traded your everlasting soul?” “I wasn’t using it.” All I know is, if I’m ever driving down a dusty country road in the south and I see a man standing alone at a crossroads with a guitar I’m picking him up. He may have lost his soul, but the way he plays could save mine. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/10 "2001-07-31T17:11:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*They were scandalized that he condemned the Soggy Bottom boys. I saw the flick 3 times, and never thought the crowd cared that he was exposed as a KKK member. > \*\* Perhaps, but The Soggy Bottom Boys was integrated! Don’t you find it hard to believe that not one of the supposed rednecks in the audience was the slightest bit bothered by the _Negro_ among them? My understanding of depression-era Southern culture is that it was _passionately_ segregated. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/11 "2001-07-31T17:16:37Z")
Loved it. Matter of fact, think I’ll see it again soon. I think it’s out on video now, right? ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/12 "2001-07-31T17:27:00Z")
Bunny, Yep! And what is so good about video is you can rewind the live performance of the Soggy Bottom Boys and watch clooney’s funny dancing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/13 "2001-07-31T17:33:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* > Well am I the only one that thought this movie was awesome or did ya’ll like it too? And was some of ya’lls favorite parts? \*\* What a fabulous movie. I loved every minute of it. It’s been said, but I have to go with George Clooney being yanked off the train. A terrific little Busterkeatonesque bit of physical comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Hibbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ce73a5/32.png) [@Hibbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hibbins)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/14 "2001-07-31T17:59:17Z")
Hilarious! Literally had me rolling with laughter at some points. Goes to show that smart and witty can be funny too. First saw and loved the movie prior to being made aware of the “Homer’s Odyssey” connection. Has been even more fun trying to decipher the imagery ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/15 "2001-07-31T18:21:16Z")
That movie ruled!!! I knew during the opening credits i would buy the soundtrack, and this is coming from an mp3 pirate. I need to get bonefide! ---
**Author:** ![DaveX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@DaveX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveX)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/16 "2001-07-31T18:27:06Z")
“Well this place is quite the geographic oddity. Two weeks from everywhere.” “My daddy always said never trust a Hogwaller” “She up and R-U-N-N-O-F-T” I loved this show. Up there with Big Lebowski as a toss up for favorite Coen brothers film. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/17 "2001-07-31T18:29:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuautemhoc \* > > Perhaps, but The Soggy Bottom Boys was integrated! Don’t you find it hard to believe that not one of the supposed rednecks in the audience was the slightest bit bothered by the _Negro_ among them? My understanding of depression-era Southern culture is that it was _passionately_ segregated. \*\* My wife’s grandmother (age 91, born and raised in Alabama) says that there was plenty of race mixing, it was just that the blacks (and poor whites) mixing were of the servant class, and were constantly visible and mixed in their roles as cooks, cleaners, _musicians_, and others doing dirty deeds dirt cheap. Now they didn’t mix socially, and the blacks were lower down on the pecking order than the white workers, but they were omnipresent (per Nana Nana anyway). Memorable lines: “Sing into the can”, “‘I’m absolved of my sin of robbing the Piggly Wiggly!’ ‘I though you said you wuz innocent of that.’ ‘Yeah, well, I’m absolved of _that_ sin too now!’” ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/18 "2001-07-31T18:40:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*My wife’s grandmother (age 91, born and raised in Alabama) says that there was plenty of race mixing, it was just that the blacks (and poor whites) mixing were of the servant class, and were constantly visible and mixed in their roles as cooks, cleaners, _musicians_, and others doing dirty deeds dirt cheap. Now they didn’t mix socially, and the blacks were lower down on the pecking order than the white workers, but they were omnipresent (per Nana Nana anyway). \*\* Interesting. I guess the racial dynamics were more complicated than I would’ve thought. Thanks, **Qadgop**. I suppose the “message” of that scene in the movie is that music can bring folks together. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/19 "2001-07-31T18:52:38Z")
Definitely in the top five of my all time faves! Brilliant casting, acting, directing, cinematography, and the score is simply perfect! I wouldn’t have believed Clooney was capable of such a performance, but I really have to give him credit, he was superb. Favorite line: …sniff…sniff…“you been using my hair cream?” ( among many others! ) Really a fall-down-laughing kind of flick, at least for me. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348/20 "2001-07-31T18:55:21Z")
LOVED IT I saw it with my parents. My dad has incorporated’Soggy Bottom Boys’ into his everyday vernacular. We are also huge fans of The Big Lebowski side note: I used to have an old, carved, wool, oriental carpet runner in my apartment in Chicago. The backround was pale yellow and it was a few months before I realized that my little dog had been using it as her own personal toliet and despite every type of steam cleaning imaginable, I had to throw it out. Coincidentally, The Big Lebowski had just opened in theaters and when I saw the seen about the ‘rug pulling the room together’ I laughed so hard I choked on my Snowcaps. My parents saw it later, and Dad likes to call me (yes still and I don’t even live in the same place) comment on what a shame it is that my rug was peed on because it REALLY pulled the room together. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-found-oh-brother-where-art-though-hilarious/74348.md?page=2)