The bar has been set incredibly high for all Coen brothers releases.
For the most part, A Serious Man lives up to these expectations. As with the best of the Coen brothers' films, it combines a dramatic story with their patented sense of humor.
While the film contains many of the ingredients of past Coen brothers films, it avoids feeling like a rehash. A Serious Man stands on its own as an impressive addition to their catalog of films, and is sure to attract Oscar buzz.
Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg, Cold Souls) is a college professor. Although he does not see it coming, his life is about to take a turn for the worst. His wife (Hollywood newcomer Sari Lennick) wants to get a divorce, and he might not be approved for tenure.
The film is a study about how people deal with crisis. Larry's Jewish faith is explored throughout the duration of the film. His meetings with various rabbis are bittersweet – hilarious, but also disheartening.
Adding to the dilemma is the fact that his wife is in love with his neighbor, Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed, Hollywood Ending). The comedic use of his name recalls the use of Osborne Cox in Burn After Reading.
In typical Coen brothers fashion, the film's meaning is left ambiguous. They believe in the audience's ability to interpret their work, rather than having the meaning spelled out for them.
Due to the film's ambiguity, it sometimes feels unsatisfying; leaving viewers with a craving to know what happens after it's over. The film's depth reveals itself to viewers willing to put some thought into it, creating a movie that is unlikely to leave their minds for a long time.
Throughout the film, Larry is thrown into unfortunate situations, while maintaining that he did nothing to cause these problems. These situations are played for laughs, but how they affect Larry is anything but funny.
The Coen brothers' decision not to use famous actors for the film works to their advantage. It allows the audience to pay close attention to the plot, without being distracted by familiar faces.
While the actors in the film are mostly newcomers, they are excellent in their roles.
Lennick is hilarious as Larry's wife. Her actions in the film call for a level of silliness that she captures brilliantly.
Aarron Wolf is excellent as Larry's pot-smoking teen son. His upcoming bar mitzvah leads to one of the most hilariously bizarre scenes that the brothers have ever created.
While the Jewish religion is examined, and its ability to give Larry concrete answers to his problems is called into question, it is never looked down upon. Those familiar with the religion will appreciate the references the brothers make throughout the film.
The 1960s setting of the film is beautifully rendered. The environments are authentic, and the cha
racters work well within them.
Frequent collaborator Carter Burwell creates an e ngaging soundtrack for the film. Jefferson Airplane's hit 'Somebody to Love' is used frequently, and its relation to the plot remains as ambiguous as the film itself.
A Serious Man will surely divide audiences. While it gets hard to watch Larry's life get destroyed over and over again, it is an engaging film that is powerful enough to stand with the best of the Coen brothers' films.
When life gets serious, count on the Coen brothers to further complicate things.
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