FILM REVIEW- A Serious Man

A Serious Man (15-105 mins)

He’s not much of a man. Or very serious for that matter…

Where? Poole Lighthouse

Plot?

Larry Gopnik is a Jewish teacher trapped in 1967 suburbia, with a cheating wife, complaining children, bribing students, useless rabbis and a dysfunctional brother. Life keeps on piling on the problems, and he can’t cope…

Thoughts?

Burn after reading saw the Coens at their extravagant worst. Rambling, unfunny and ultimately dull, it was a million miles away from the eerie calm of No Country For Old Men, or the controlled chaos of the big Lebowski.

Although not a masterpiece, this is a return to form of sorts. It is a constantly downplayed and quiet film, but it is always engaging and has a drive Burn After Reading sorely lacked.

Most of this is down to unknown Michael Stuhlbarg, who imbues Larry with so much timid fragility, you will want to literally reach into the screen and shake him into taking some action.

His constant inability to deal with his problems makes him one of the most frustrating yet sympathetic characters yet seen on screen. You hope throughout that something, anything, will go in his favour.

But clearly that would ruin the joke, and the Coens aren’t playing by any rules. And that includes giving you a clear cut happy ending.

Black humour is the name of the game, and there are flashes of brilliance here that help lighten Larry’s seemingly endless slide into oblivion.

A rabbi’s tale of messages within a mans mouth is a confidently comedic sidestep, and some dream sequences which might be seen as out of place if they weren’t so powerfully memorable.

As for the films ending, god only knows. It is audacious and perplexing, and no doubt will leave many desperately searching for a concrete explanation.

There’s no easy answer here though. Is an ending not necessary like in the elder Rabbi’s tale, and therefore not needed? Is it religious payback for Larry’s morally questionable act at the films end? Is there any link between the end and the separated opening scene?

It’s all unknown, and some will find that as enthralling as others will find it deeply frustrating.

If you want your films to engender debate then this is perfect. But the debate will also be whether this is yet another decent but underwhelming Coen tale to add to the pile.

It is similar in many ways to Barton Fink, good and bad. They are both dark and brooding in tone, possess characters which you can’t predict, but ultimately fail to piece together their enjoyable moments into an all encompassing whole. Bitty, but enjoyable.

Overall, it is too coy, too unwilling to conform to audience expectations, to break the mainstream. A cult fan base surely awaits.

Verdict?

Another marmite flavoured slice of Coen pie. Easier to enjoy if you don't expect any easy answers. (3/5)

Go Further?

· Technically, this is the film the Coens filmed after No Country, but for some reason Burn After Reading was released after the Oscar winner.

· Note how there are no faces you recognise. Brave, and it adds immeasurably to the films understated tone.

· The film has an interesting soundtrack. You unfortunately don’t hear much Hendrix in films nowadays…

Haiku?

Coens hate the mainstream

This is a prime example

Refreshing indeed!

Second Opinion?

Mark Kermode thought it was refreshing to see such a film shy so far away from the mainstream...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nwvqy

(Halfway down the page, below Twilight)

Trailer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcUTv3LH3ss