It’s not just the music in* O Brother Where Art Thou *that makes it great; it is the message of the film.
For me, the humor, great characterizations (which is a consistent quality of all of the Coen brothers’ films), music, and message all combine to make it their best.
But I feel I have to mention a few things I haven’t read on this thread yet:
In Raising Arizona, when Glen (Sam McMurray) suggests swapping wives, Nate decks him. In the next shot, Nate has to stride several steps just to get over to where Glen has landed.What a great, subtly filmed bit of humor!
In an aside that relates to a separate thread about underappreciated supporting acting roles, let’s hear it for Jennifer Jason Leigh in The Hudsucker Proxy, who simply nails the accent and talking patter of 30’s and 40’s films.
The symbolism in Hudsucker is great, too; for example, the two completely bald characters, especially in the clock/frozen time scene, and what they represent. Well chosen!
I really appreciate filmakers who manage to make films in several genres. The Coens have certainly accomplished that many times over. Another Director who seems to be able to do that is Ang Lee. Quentin Tarantino is kind of the anti-thesis of that. He makes great movies, but they are all of a similar stripe.
For me, four maybe five I wouldn’t want to have to choose between (so I won’t), several more I would watch again anytime.
I have not seen Grit, Hudsucker, or a Serious Man. Just to be on the other side, Miller’s Crossing and No Country for Old Men along with Barton Fink and The Man Who wasn’t there were all films with which I was actively disappointed in as I watched. Probably the Ladykillers too by comparison to original.
Re Ladykillers, comparing Tom Hanks’ performance to Alec Guiness’ almost seems unfair.
It’s too close to call between The Man Who Wasn’t There, Fargo, and Raising Arizona for me, so I voted for The Man Who Wasn’t There because I didn’t want it to have no votes, and was surprised to find I was the 2nd vote for it.
Looking over the poll options, I’ve only seen one of those, and I didn’t particularly care for it, so I guess I’m stuck with Michael Bay and his explosions.
I have a question about Gambit. I’d never heard of it before this week. It’s just opened in Bangkok. Written by the Coen Brothers but not directed by them. Has anyone seen it, and how is it?
The only ones I’ve seen recently enough to remember are A Serious Man and The Big Lebowski and I hated both. So I voted for Michael Bay. (His movies suck too, but they’re entertaining, whereas the Coen brother films just make me feel like I’ve wasted several hours of my life).
Fargo, as it reminds me of how my Swedish grandmother talked, and it was just a fine movie. Next would be Blood Simple, the first Coen Bros film I saw, followed by** Raising Arizona**.