This lightly engaging trifle could have been more fun with a greater helping of the Coens' antic spirit.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 15, 2010

The Coens are like party acquaintances who keep changing the subject and then staring at you quizzically when you can't follow the thread, or when you stop wanting to follow it, but who then block all your exit routes from their obnoxious conversation.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Jul 22, 2009

After making what are still probably their two best features, the Coen brothers came up with their worst, a piece of pop nihilism.

Full Review | Nov 7, 2007

The Coen's tale of three escaped convicts has more to do with Homer the Simpson than Homer the poet.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 14, 2007

As a big-budget film from two of our great contemporary social satirists, it falls short.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 20, 2003

Are the Coens just being smart alecks here, or are they saying something sourly profound about American popular culture?

Full Review | Sep 4, 2001

Wide-ranging ambition is a virtue in a director, but it finally counts for little if the crucial human details are missing.

Full Review | Apr 16, 2001

Despite moments of brilliance and an incredible musical score, the film's lackluster pace and questionable storyline are liable to leave you thinking, well, "Oh, brother!"

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 7, 2001

Limps along like a classics professor shot in the kneecap by his tenure committee.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2001

Leaves a sour taste.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Jan 12, 2001

Too many dead spots between the inspired bits of nonsense to make O Brother the laugh riot it purports to be.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2001

A movie like O Brother, Where Art Thou? seems to be more of an exercise in solipsism than actual storytelling.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jan 12, 2001

O Brother itself is just frustrating, mostly because we know what the Coens are capable of when truly inspired.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2001

A flattening pile of artifice and conceit disguised as a road comedy.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2001

The thinly disguised contempt with which the Coens view redneck culture grows tiresome and, eventually, a bit mean.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2001

Until now, the Coen brothers' movies have been condescending but clever, smirky but clever, heartless but clever, vague but at least vaguely clever. O Brother, Where Art Thou? has all of those ingredients except cleverness.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2001

An especially elaborate variation on Hee Haw.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2001

The ideas seem half-baked at best, and the gags are the flattest in any of the Coens' films.

Full Review | Jan 4, 2001

I had the sense of invention set adrift; of a series of bright ideas wondering why they had all been invited to the same film.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 29, 2000

The latest misanthropic flimflam from the Coen brothers, is like an extended Three Stooges episode featuring an even stupider version of the cast of Hee Haw.

Full Review | Original Score: F | Dec 22, 2000