The works of the Coen brothers always limit the time, place, social background and other factors of the story very narrowly, and it is this clear setting that makes the story infinitely close to reality. While infinitely close to reality, through unique perspectives, plots and character performances, the stories that are close to reality have a magical feeling. For many details in the story, you can always find the corresponding real existence in history. This confrontation between the real and the magical makes the Coen brothers' films unique.
The following contains spoilers, although the plot is not the point.
"Three Kings" is set in Mississippi in 1937. Three bound prisoners (Delmar O'Donnell, Pete Hogwallop, Ulysses Everett McGill, hereinafter referred to as Delmar, Pete, Everett),
under the deception of Everett, escaped on the way to the labor camp and began to their treasure hunt and escape.
The song "Po'Lazarus" (bob dylan) The
film begins with the music of "Po'Lazarus", a "labor chant" from the African-American South in the 1960s, known as "bad man ballad" ". In 1959, when Alan Lomax traveled in the southern United States, he made it into a song based on what he saw when a team of prisoners sang while they were working. James Carter was involved in the recording at the time. In 2000, James Carter re-sang the song with the inmates in the film to begin the film. This song was covered by many people, because I couldn't find James Carter's version in Penguin Music, so I posted the version covered by Bob dylan, and only half of it was played in the film. Interested students can find the full version in a cloud music.
Song: "Big Rock Candy Mountain" Harry McClintock
Everett was jailed for driving without a license and locked in a labor camp with Delmar and Pete. Because his wife Penny is going to remarry in a few days, Everett, who wants to prevent his wife from saving the family, lied that he had robbed a cash truck and hid 1.2 million at home, and promised to split it equally between Delmar and Pete after the successful escape. , the three successfully escaped from the prison in the singing of "big rock candy mountain".
Song: "Down to the Rriver to Pray" Alison Krauss
Because of the betrayal of Cousin Pete, the three fled from Cousin Pete's house in a hurry, and ran into Christians who washed their sins in the river. In the holy chants of Christians, Dema was moved to accept the priest's baptism. After the baptism, Dema was convinced, and Pete was baptized under the infection. Everett does not believe that river water can wash away sins. He feels that everyone is looking for the answer to life in this day and age, and those who seek answers from religion have gone crazy.
"Down to the Rriver to Pray," a simple few-line lyrics sung by Alison Krauss, brings peace and holiness to everyone who hears it. Even non-Christians can feel redemption, and the sins of the three in the story were forgiven by God when they heard the song. In fact, whether you believe in it or not, the way of salvation is in your own hands.
Song: "Man of Constant Sorrow"
On the way to the small town of Immet, they met soul guitarist Tommy Johnson. The four went to Tishomingo to earn money for the journey, and recorded "Man of Constant Sorrow" on Tishomingo's radio station. They casually call themselves The Soggy Bottom Boys, and they mainly sing nostalgic songs. The trio who have never sang suddenly turned into a powerful band in the studio, and people were immediately attracted by their singing (surprised!) . "Man of Constant Sorrow" implements the full text, naming the main idea! Well, good song, good song! When he first appeared, he laid a foreshadowing, paving the way for the latter three to be saved because of the song. The song's original author, Dick Burnett, originally titled "Farewell Song" in 1913 and later changed it to its current title "I am a man of canstant sorrow" in Emry Arthur's 1928 version. There are many different versions of this song. The most popular ones are The Stanley Brothers and Bob Dylan. The protagonist of this film is closely related to this song, and Dan Tyminski's performance in the film makes this song bring people to people. Come to a new feeling. The soggy bottom boys got their name from a parody of the Foggy Mountain Boys.
Song: "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" Chirs Thomas king After
recording the song, the four of them sleep rough in the forest, accompanied by Tommy's solo accompaniment, the four of them talk about their dreams, until the marshal's raid shatters their fantasy and brings them back to reality . The role of Tommy Johnson (Tommy) in the film comes from two famous blues singers, Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson. Played by chirs Thomas king who is also a blues singer, it pays tribute to two great blues singers.
Songs: "I'll Fly Away" Gillian Welch/Alison Krauss, "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby"
after parting with George Nelson who proved he grew up by robbery. With "I'll Fly Away", the three ushered in the most relaxing and enjoyable time of this journey. Their song "Man of Constant Sorrow" was widely sung, and the Soggy bottom boys became the talk of the moment. On the way they meet three women who are doing laundry in the river, Pete is betrayed by the women and falls into the hands of the marshals. They sang "Didn't Leave Nobody But the baby" when they met the laundress.
Song: "you are my sunshine" Jimmie Davis Since
"you are my sunshine" was born in 1939, Lang Lang's catchy music style has been loved by countless people and has been covered by singers one after another. The song in this film is a song used by Governor Pappy O'Daniel for his campaign. The governor himself is cronyism, has no interest in reform, and just wants to win re-election to gain power. This film has a very interesting depiction of the governor's election at that time. The local people like nostalgic songs. Whoever "masters" the nostalgic band, people will vote for him without thinking about the candidate's ability to govern and character.
Songs: "keep on the Sunny Side" The Whites
"In The Highways" The Peasall Sister
"O Death" Ralph Stanley (Hostile)
Another candidate, Homer Stokes, is good at drawing people's hearts through speeches and clearly knows the voting psychology of the people. The Whites group played for the governor at the beginning of the film. Later, Homer successfully dug the group with the Peasall Sister during his speech. Singing on the same stage, won the support of many people. And behind his back is the hypocritical KKK leader, a racist who tried to burn Tommy to death at a party. As expressed by his singing of "O Death", he was the one who sold his soul to the devil in contrast to Tommy who was going to be burned.
Song: "In the Jailhouse Now" The
story of The Soggy Bottom Boys culminates in Penny's engagement party, when the trio disguised themselves as musicians and performed "In the Jailhouse Now" and "Man of Constant Sorrow". Through the singing of the song, not only did Homer Stokes' mask be debunked and won the governor's exoneration of the three, but Everett also won back Penny's heart.
Song: "Indian War Whoop" by john Hartford
This song was played by the festive crowd as Nelson was finally arrested on his way to the execution ground. George Nelson is the most idealized person in this film. He is full of energy one moment, proving himself to the world, and then he can be depressed because of one sentence. When he was finally sent to the execution ground, he shouted his name with passion and kept telling others who he was.
"I'll fly into the sky like a Roman fireworks, 20,000 volts of electricity chasing rabbits in me, draining the electricity across the state, sparks in my head, discharge in my hands...I'm ten feet tall" George Nelson Tall shouted.
Song: "Lonesome Valley" The fairfield Four
returned to Everett's hometown in search of their wedding rings, where they met the law enforcement officer who was guarding them. While tied to the gallows, the three Negroes who had dug their graves sang their dirge to bid farewell to the four dying men, a song that also appeared in Twelve Years a Slave.
Song: "Angel Band" The Stanley brother
"Angel Band" is gospel music from black Americans. The lyrics come from a poem called "My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast". The whole poem is to hope that the angel will bring the hero back to his hometown. .
The story script of this film is adapted from Homer's epic "The Odyssey", and a new story is deduced in a new era. There are still many deep meanings not mentioned above in the plot arrangement and music selection of this film. I also ask readers to bear with me, and interested students can dig out by themselves.
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