A Serious Man is the newest Coen Brothers creation. If you haven't at least heard of the Coen Brothers, you have 2 options. Go jump off the nearest really tall building or do some research on them and watch some of their movies, because they (the movies and the Brothers, not the really tall buildings) are awesome. Having said that, however, Coen Brothers' movies are also very weird, and sometime very hard to really understand. They all have this strange, um, thing, about them. I find that the first time I watch a Coen Brothers movie, I am a little confused, and find myself saying, "well, that was okay...i guess..." But then the second time I like it a little more and the third a little more, and so on and so forth. Usually the opposite happens with most movies. They lose a little bit of their luster after each subsequent viewing. I say all of that to say this. A Serious Man was okay...i guess...
A Serious Man is a very black comedy of Larry Gopnik, a physics professor at a quiet Midwestern university, who is a good man who's live is unraveling around him. His wife Judith is leaving him for a totally pompous acquaintance, his unemployable brother Arthur sleeps on the couch and gets in serious legal trouble, his son Danny is a discipline problem and a total pothead, and his daughter Sarah is stealing money from his wallet, an Asian student is blackmailing him for grades, and all the while Larry tries to keep his life in order and find answers to all of this through guidance of 3 very unhelpful Rabbis. This is a movie about the Jewish faith, about trying to stay faithful amongst all the crap that's going on. If you know the biblical story of Job, this is a black comedy based on that.
The Coen Brothers always find ways to deal with very deep themes in their movies. This one is no different. This would be a very serious, very depressing drama if there were not the series of outrageous events, circumstances, and characters that inhabit this film. There are no big stars in this flick either, however, you'll probably recognize a few of the actors.
It is really hard for me to write a truly honest review of this movie because I can't help but think that this movie is actually much better than I thought after my first viewing. If I had to tell you right now, without anything else, what I thought of the movie, I would have to say I thought it was a little dull, very strange, and a bit difficult to understand the point. But I can't say that because I know it is a Coen Brothers movie and their flicks are so subtle and creative and different that they all end up being good. This movie is definitely creatively done, and definitely original.
My suggestion to you guys is this. If you like Coen Brothers movies, you should rent this one. But be forewarned that it is a much more serious "comedy" than some of their others. It will be difficult to grasp at first, I think. If you don't like the Coen Brother's or you are like Timmy and need explosions and car chases to keep you entertained, then you are going to find this one very dull. Maybe after I see this one again, I can write a better review, but until then, this is all I've got.
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