Review of A Serious Man (2009) by Matthew M — 24 Aug 2012
The Coen Brothers have carved themselves a niche in today's Hollywood releases - always blending their own personal beliefs with stories that can affect a generation, their films have always been ambitious and different; "A Serious Man", their 2009 effort, doesn't quite have the same ring about it that their other films do, despite it being their most personal and strange venture.
It's truly small cinema, yet the darkly humorous and deeply affecting themes tend not to mesh as well as they could do (and have done, in previous efforts), creating an air of almost uncertainty on behalf of the directors.
That being said, it's not a bad film - far from it, in fact. It delivers enough emotion and heart to keep you willing on the characters, and the plot is pitch perfect - couple that with some superb cinematography (courtesy of Coen Brothers frequent collaborator Roger Deakins) and fresh ideas, and you know that, although you may never quite understand it, or maybe even want to, the Coen Brothers have created something that isn't far from a masterpiece.
..for better or for worse.
This review of A Serious Man (2009) was written by Matthew M on 24 Aug 2012.
A Serious Man has generally received positive reviews.
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