O’ Brother, Where Art Thou? is a comedy written and directed by the Coen brothers. Set in the great depression era, it follows three escaped convicts as they travel through the Midwest in search of a treasure that the group’s leader, Everett McGill, claims to have hidden prior to his arrest.
There are many comedic techniques seen in this movie, but one that I noticed in particular is the use of repetition. In my own life I have found that repetition tends to make an initially funny thing less and less funny and increasingly annoying, however, the Coen brothers have managed to use repetition to their advantage many times in O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?.
There are many comedic techniques seen in this movie, but one that I noticed in particular is the use of repetition. In my own life I have found that repetition tends to make an initially funny thing less and less funny and increasingly annoying, however, the Coen brothers have managed to use repetition to their advantage many times in O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?.
"Damn, we're in a tight spot!"
One of the first times we see this technique used is shortly after the character’s initial escape. They are sleeping in a barn loft for the night, but are woken by the police bullhorn announcing that they have been surrounded. The repetitive humor in this scene is in Everett’s line “Damn, we’re in a tight spot.”
"Damn, we're in a tight spot!" Video Clip
(repetition occurs from 0:00 to 1:13)
"Damn, we're in a tight spot!" Video Clip
(repetition occurs from 0:00 to 1:13)
direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPImdMknAO4
Everett’s line is funny mostly because of George Clooney’s delivery; the way it is said and his facial expressions and body language while saying it. The tone in his voice takes us through Everett’s emotions and thought process even when he is not seen, as in the case of the last repetition. You can hear him go from realization, to confirmation, to fear all in the same small line. These emotions are further confirmed in the actions that correspond with the first three repetitions. All of these aspects compose Clooney’s delivery and add to the overall humor of the scene.
This line is also funny because it is so obvious. They are three escaped convicts in a barn loft without weapons or any other form of defense and surrounded by the police who are about to light the very floor they’re standing on on fire – of course it’s a tight spot. Yet Everett feels the need to repeat it multiple times mostly because there’s not much else to say and they are constantly being reaffirmed that their tight spot keeps getting tighter with every action taken by the cops.
Everett’s line is funny mostly because of George Clooney’s delivery; the way it is said and his facial expressions and body language while saying it. The tone in his voice takes us through Everett’s emotions and thought process even when he is not seen, as in the case of the last repetition. You can hear him go from realization, to confirmation, to fear all in the same small line. These emotions are further confirmed in the actions that correspond with the first three repetitions. All of these aspects compose Clooney’s delivery and add to the overall humor of the scene.
This line is also funny because it is so obvious. They are three escaped convicts in a barn loft without weapons or any other form of defense and surrounded by the police who are about to light the very floor they’re standing on on fire – of course it’s a tight spot. Yet Everett feels the need to repeat it multiple times mostly because there’s not much else to say and they are constantly being reaffirmed that their tight spot keeps getting tighter with every action taken by the cops.
"Do. Not. Seek. The treasure."
A second example of humor through repetition is seen in the movie theater scene. One of the three guys, Pete, manages to get recaptured by the authorities and placed back in prison. In a massive coincidence, the other two men, Everett and Delmar, are watching a movie in the same theater that the prison inmates are brought to. Pete fails miserably at trying to discretely convey a message to the other two.
“Do. Not. Seek. The treasure.” Video Clip
(entire clip)
“Do. Not. Seek. The treasure.” Video Clip
(entire clip)
direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPjhEsZr8Nw
Once again, this line is funny because of John Turturro’s delivery. For the first three repetitions Pete is concerned with being quiet and inconspicuous but after he and Delmar have a confusing exchange he is kind of annoyed and just wants to ensure that they understand his directions, so he states his message for a fourth time a lot louder and much more obviously. This is funny because of Pete’s correspondingly intensifying expressions, the contrastingly quiet movie theater, and the probability that he had already made his point with the first three repetitions.
Compared to the previous repetition, this one is much more obvious. Everett's lines are more of a background occurrence and broken up by the action that they're meant to highlight. Pete's line is the entire focus of the scene and is repeated with less time and action/dialogue between repetitions. Pete is also fairly large in the frame when delivering it for the final time, emphasizing the importance of him and his line. So, while both are line repetitions and both result in humor, they are unique in their context, delivery, and purpose in the scene.
Once again, this line is funny because of John Turturro’s delivery. For the first three repetitions Pete is concerned with being quiet and inconspicuous but after he and Delmar have a confusing exchange he is kind of annoyed and just wants to ensure that they understand his directions, so he states his message for a fourth time a lot louder and much more obviously. This is funny because of Pete’s correspondingly intensifying expressions, the contrastingly quiet movie theater, and the probability that he had already made his point with the first three repetitions.
Compared to the previous repetition, this one is much more obvious. Everett's lines are more of a background occurrence and broken up by the action that they're meant to highlight. Pete's line is the entire focus of the scene and is repeated with less time and action/dialogue between repetitions. Pete is also fairly large in the frame when delivering it for the final time, emphasizing the importance of him and his line. So, while both are line repetitions and both result in humor, they are unique in their context, delivery, and purpose in the scene.
"My hair!"
This is another one of Everett's lines, however, it is also more of a reoccurring theme throughout the movie, represented by his Dapper Dan "hair jelly." The first time it is given can actually be seen at the very beginning of the first clip in the article. The next, and final, time it is heard is in this scene:
"My hair!" Video Clip
(0:25 - 0:33)
"My hair!" Video Clip
(0:25 - 0:33)
direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p56k6QCjJnc
Once again, Clooney's delivery is key to this line's comedic value. However, the insight into his character that this line provides is what really makes it funny. Everett prides himself on his way with words and his entire persona of a quick thinking, smooth talking man. To him, his hair is part of that persona and it therefore must be as slick and perfect as the words coming out of his mouth. So, when you first hear the line, it is a funny occurrence, but when it appears for the second time, you can see that the first was no coincidence and his obsession with his hair goes deep into a subconscious level. Dreaming about one's hair seems ridiculous and a bit obsessive, much like Everett, which makes this line simply an extension of his character and the humor that he already possessed by simply being Everett.
It is not only this line, though, that portrays the importance of Everett's hair. The "Dapper Dan" pomade is a reoccurring item throughout the movie. It is seen very many times with a few of the funnier ones being when Everett is arguing with the store clerk who does not carry it and when it is swirling through the flood waters that destroyed Everett's house. And just as the line is an extension of Everett's character, the pomade is an extension of the line, creating an even stronger image associated with the humor that is Everett's relationship with his hair.
Once again, Clooney's delivery is key to this line's comedic value. However, the insight into his character that this line provides is what really makes it funny. Everett prides himself on his way with words and his entire persona of a quick thinking, smooth talking man. To him, his hair is part of that persona and it therefore must be as slick and perfect as the words coming out of his mouth. So, when you first hear the line, it is a funny occurrence, but when it appears for the second time, you can see that the first was no coincidence and his obsession with his hair goes deep into a subconscious level. Dreaming about one's hair seems ridiculous and a bit obsessive, much like Everett, which makes this line simply an extension of his character and the humor that he already possessed by simply being Everett.
It is not only this line, though, that portrays the importance of Everett's hair. The "Dapper Dan" pomade is a reoccurring item throughout the movie. It is seen very many times with a few of the funnier ones being when Everett is arguing with the store clerk who does not carry it and when it is swirling through the flood waters that destroyed Everett's house. And just as the line is an extension of Everett's character, the pomade is an extension of the line, creating an even stronger image associated with the humor that is Everett's relationship with his hair.
I’m no expert on why funny things are funny, but it is clear that the repetition used in O’ Brother, Where Art Thou? enhances the comedic value given to the three lines previously discussed and to many others that were not mentioned. The Coen brothers have managed to use this comedic technique perfectly in correspondence with the character’s circumstances and personalities and it has given their movie a unique touch that only adds to its charm and originality.
Other examples
"Gopher, Everett?"
"R-u-n-n-o-f-t"
"Who elected you leader of this here outfit?"
"R-u-n-n-o-f-t"
"Who elected you leader of this here outfit?"
Sources
Barsam, Richard Meran., and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print.
Coen Brothers. O' Brother, Where Art Thou? N.d. Movie.
"DO NOT Seek the Treasure!" YouTube. YouTube, 10 Apr. 2007. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
""My Hair!"" YouTube. YouTube, 27 May 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
"O Brother, Where Art Thou? We're in a Tight Spot! (2000) HD." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
"Quotes." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Coen Brothers. O' Brother, Where Art Thou? N.d. Movie.
"DO NOT Seek the Treasure!" YouTube. YouTube, 10 Apr. 2007. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
""My Hair!"" YouTube. YouTube, 27 May 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
"O Brother, Where Art Thou? We're in a Tight Spot! (2000) HD." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
"Quotes." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.