Review of A Serious Man (2009) by Jonathan S — 25 Apr 2011

I've been ploughing my way through a box-set of Coen brothers films, and this is the most unusual one so far - unusual for the Coens that is. It tells the story of the gradual disintegration of the comfortable life led by middle-aged Jewish professor physics, Larry Gopnik, who starts the film living comfortably in the suburbs with a wife and two teenage kids.

The plot, such as it is, is Larry's search for some meaning in the troubles which beset him. Several long scenes revolve around consultations with his lawyer or the local rabbis. The film is set in the Midwestern US in 1967, and there is plenty of careful period detail.

Although there is some trademark Coen silliness - such as the man next door who appears to be a potential spree killer, and a couple of surprise deaths there is very little violence (and what there is mostly in dream sequences).

But what sets it apart from some of their other films is that the characters feel a little more rounded, a little more like real people than parodies than in some Coen brother comedies. There's also plenty of emphasis on Jewish customs and lore, which I found very interesting.