For the Coen brothers, this Mississippi-set, Depression-era adaptation of The Odyssey is a joke in their usual nudge-nudge, wink-wink sort of way. As a result, while George Clooneys Ulysses leads two other escapees from a chain-gang, their picaresque homeward journey is treated for laughs, not tragedy. The slapdash O Brother falls into the category of lesser Coen works, enjoyable while it lasts, forgettable once its over. Its musical interludes are the best thing about the picture, with excellent bluegrass and spiritual standards. (The actors voices are mostly dubbed while singing.) John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson play the stooges to Clooneys dapper, dim ringleader. (PG-13) BRIAN MILLER
March 18-20, 7 p.m.; Wed., March 23, 9:30 p.m., 2011
