Review of A Serious Man (2009) by James K — 11 Apr 2012

The Coen Brothers may be my favorite writers in all of film. They have a brilliant tendency of dehumanizing people to caricatures, but it's hard not to match these characters with people we all know.

But then again, this is coming from me. My misanthropy is on the same wavelength as the Coens. I understand their perception of people because I have very similar sensibilities. This particular film is essentially a retelling of the Book of Job, and it's really a masterful piece of filmmaking.

There is a rhythm and forwardness to the direction that allows for that mixture of despair and humor that only they can pull off successfully. The film is extremely well-acted, and as mentioned before, most of the humor derives from idiosyncrasies integral to the characters.

Beyond my own enjoyment of their cynicism, there is much to be enjoyed here. It's at once a parable/morality tale, exploration of our severe lack of control over our own lives, and character film, among others.

Well...okay, maybe not ENJOYED, but more appreciated. It covers a lot of bases for its length. Its conciseness allows for a completely rich experience. Honestly I can't even explain how attached I am to this film even having seen it a few hours ago.

I'd say it's their true masterpiece, but it's more like their third true masterpiece. Keep 'em coming.