A Serious ManOnly great movies require cheesy appraisals, so here it goes: “A Serious Man” is seriously good. Compared to other Coen brother films, it holds its own in a line of classics. And for those thinking you’re going in to see a comedy, note that it’s not just any comedy — it’s a horrific comedy (meant in the best of ways).

When you see the opening sequence featuring a Polish peasant and his wife speaking in Yiddish, just note that you’re not in the wrong theatre. The film kicks off with a short horror film, ending with spilled blood. It raises the question: “Has the almighty Hashem blessed them with a visitor? Or cursed them with a soul-stealing dybbuk?” You’ll understand once you see the film.

It then fast forwards to a 1967 Minneapolis Jewish community, of which Physics professor Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a part of. And let’s just say his life isn’t one you would envy. Larry’s wife wants to leave him for their lovey-dovey friend Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed), his brother has taken over the family couch and his bathroom, and his kids are constantly bickering with each other.

To top things off, Larry’s opportunity to a life of tenure is being threatened by a student who blackmails him over something he didn’t quite do. Could things possibly get any worse? Apparently they can.

“A Serious Man” raises the question: what did Larry do to deserve all of this? The answer, however, isn’t quite clear, and that’s the point. Joel and Ethan Coen return to their Midwestern routes in this film and you can tell it’s a personal one for them (though to make it clear, it’s not a biopic of their lives). Although they set the film in a Jewish community, the quest for understanding that Larry goes on is universal, anyone can relate. Most of the film’s humour comes from his angst and the fact that everyone surrounding him is too self-absorbed to notice he’s suffering.

The Coens, who wrote and directed the movie, took a big risk when they put together a cast of mostly unknown actors for the black comedy. But they can rest assured the risk paid off. Stuhlbarg is so authentic as the film’s protagonist. Although none of the characters seem to sympathize with Larry, viewers will without a doubt. The entire supporting cast, including Larry’s wife Judith (Sari Lennick), his brother Arthur (Richard Kind), Sy (played by Fred Melamed) and his children (Jessica McManus and Aaron Wolff) are simply incredible (especially his pot-smoking pre-teen son).

Sure “A Serious Man” doesn’t feature the signature violence of “No Country for Old Men,” but it still has that custom-made surrealism only the Coen brothers can pull off.

andPOP Rating - 4 Stars






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