In Joel and Ethan Coen's (No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski) new film A Serious Man, Michael Stuhlbarg plays Larry Gopnik; a university professor in Minnesota who experiences many of lives difficulties in a short period of time. Larry Gopnik, is an ordinary man in the 1960's suburbia, but in the matter of one week a student bribes him, his wife leaves him, he is up for tenure, his neighbor is a racist ex-Korean War vet, his brother gets investigated by the FBI, his children hardly respect him, and etc. Gopnik, is a widely an over looked character, who is of course a serious man, however he has been too passive in his previous lifestyle and it is not until his wife decides to leave him for a long time friend that Gopnik sees the error his ways, and the communities.
Let me just say that I absolutely love the Coen brothers, and I don't know that I could ever not like one of their films. (Though some of their earlier films this decade, like Intolerable Cruelty really test this theory.) The Coens could direct a movie about dirt and I would still be interested. With that said, this movie in large part is enjoyable, but may not appeal to all audiences. This film is loaded with Jewish cultural references, and honestly most of it probably went over my head.
This film resembles the same style as the Coen's brother's earlier film Barton Fink. It is very slow and lengthy in dialogue without much action (or action from characters on screen). But as a Coen brother's fan I love it. This film reminds me of some of Luis Bunuel films (Belle De Joir, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie), a film that doesn't have a lot of obvious narrative direction, but pokes fun at a particular type of demographic of society. The ending is very ambiguous, and yet I love it at the same time.
This film does not even come close to being one of the Coen's brothers best films, and I wouldn't say it is a Best Picture contender either. However, when the film is over you love it because it is their film and they have stamped with the authorship that we come to love from them. I had a fun time with this film, though it may not be for everyone. If you enjoy dry (very dry) humor, than you will enjoy this film. But if dry humor is not your bag, than perhaps wait till DVD or maybe never.
Let me just say that I absolutely love the Coen brothers, and I don't know that I could ever not like one of their films. (Though some of their earlier films this decade, like Intolerable Cruelty really test this theory.) The Coens could direct a movie about dirt and I would still be interested. With that said, this movie in large part is enjoyable, but may not appeal to all audiences. This film is loaded with Jewish cultural references, and honestly most of it probably went over my head.
This film resembles the same style as the Coen's brother's earlier film Barton Fink. It is very slow and lengthy in dialogue without much action (or action from characters on screen). But as a Coen brother's fan I love it. This film reminds me of some of Luis Bunuel films (Belle De Joir, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie), a film that doesn't have a lot of obvious narrative direction, but pokes fun at a particular type of demographic of society. The ending is very ambiguous, and yet I love it at the same time.
This film does not even come close to being one of the Coen's brothers best films, and I wouldn't say it is a Best Picture contender either. However, when the film is over you love it because it is their film and they have stamped with the authorship that we come to love from them. I had a fun time with this film, though it may not be for everyone. If you enjoy dry (very dry) humor, than you will enjoy this film. But if dry humor is not your bag, than perhaps wait till DVD or maybe never.
None the less, I still love the Coen brother and can't wait for their version of True Grit. This film is playing in very select locations, but I say that if you are a fan of the Coen's and it is playing anywhere close to you, than you have to go see it.
Grade: B
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