A Serious Man Review
Posted by Chad Webb on 10.15.2009
Compared to this guy's life, getting hunted by Anton Chigurh doesn't seem so bad.
Michael Stuhlbarg: Larry Gopnik
Richard Kind: Uncle Arthur
Fred Melamed: Sy Ableman
Sari Lennick: Judith Gopnik
Aaron Wolff: Danny Gopnik
Jessica McManus: Sarah Gopnik
Peter Breitmayer: Mr. Brandt
Brent Braunschweig: Mitch Brandt
Alan Mandell: Rabbi Marshak
Michael Lerner: Solomon Schlutz
Michael Tezla: Dr. Sussman
Written and Directed By: Joel and Ethan Coen
Release Date: October 2, 2009
Running Time: 105 minutes
Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity and brief violence.
The beginning and end of Joel and Ethan Coen’s new film A Serious Man will be the source of debate and discussion for many years. Without elaborating on the conclusion, I will just note that for those who prefer the story to be wrapped up in a tidy package, you might leave the theater in disappointment. The prologue is another ball of wax. It takes place many years prior to the events of the primary plot, and does not involve any of the main characters. The question is how does it relate to the central story aside from the Jewish connection?
One could speculate on these rather intriguing bookends, but as with any Coen comedy, one must be open to new experiences. If the viewer can comfortably welcome odd twists and turns, the humor of these sequences will become clearer. I will not divulge any further information. The opening is set in a European shtetl, and is spoken in Yiddish. A husband arrives home from a vicious blizzard, and explains that the wheel on his wagon was damaged, but that a neighbor assisted him. When he reveals who the neighbor is, the wife scolds him, and says that the neighbor is actually dead, and that her husband was aided by a wandering spirit, or a “dybbuk.” The situation gets more interesting when this mysterious man knocks on the door and enters. The cast credits display a question mark following this sequence, and then the main story starts. It is easy to forget about that opening as the plot unravels, but its bizarreness has a way of creeping back to the front of your mind once the film is over.
Dark comedies are difficult to construct. The subject matter must not rub the audience the wrong way, and the filmmakers must be aware of this. On many occasions, the aim and message from a dark comedy can be confused and muddled, which usually results in a failure. The Coen brothers succeed beautifully with A Serious Man, one of the best comedies of the year, and also one of the bleakest. It is a genius change of pace and mood from their previous film, Burn After Reading, also a comedy, but of a different breed. That intertwined multiple types of humor, and was a spectacular movie that was more in line with the quirky gags and jokes we expect from the Coens. A Serious Man dives face first into a pool of dark laughs.
Their newest effort focuses on the life of a physics teacher named Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), who is dealt a very bad hand, or a number of bad hands to be honest. His wife (Lari Sennick) wants a divorce because she has a relationship with another man, Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed). But no “hanky panky” has gone on that Larry knows about. His unemployed brother Arthur (Richard Kind) is staying with the family, and occupies the bathroom for very long periods of time to suck the puss out of his cyst. His daughter (Jessica McManus) has an attitude problem akin to many teenage girls, but she also wants a nose job. His son (Aaron Wolff) updates him constantly on the efficiency of the antenna, which interferes with his F Troop watching. At the same time, a Korean student of Larry’s, Clive, has failed an exam, and wants desperately for Larry to adjust this grade. He is willing to pay for this adjustment. If that sounds bad, Larry’s daily existence gets much worse, yet it is hilarious.
Larry tries to tackle each of these dilemmas, but not one seems to go away. His answer is to consult a rabbi, and before it is all set and done, he visits three of them. His only solace comes from the brief peeks at his sexy neighbor Mrs. Samsky who sunbaths in her backyard. A Serious Man uses a hefty amount of Jewish stereotypes, but in a most genuine and blunt fashion. It feels like it comes from the hearts of its writing and directing duo, but since those hearts belong to Joel and Ethan Coen, the personal aspects are filtered through the frustrating world of Larry Gopnik. The resulting achievement is quite thoughtful and side-splitting.
In a bold maneuver that should occur more often, the Coens hired an extremely un-Hollywood type cast. In other words, it is a complete 180 from Burn After Reading. The star is Michael Stuhlbarg, an theater actor that has appeared in a handful of films in minor roles, and in various television shows. This is obviously his largest and most important part to date, and under the guidance of the Coens, he delivers each line of intricate dialogue like a seasoned professional. Stuhlbarg’s innocent demeanor and lack of temper seem valid, and are crucial to allowing the laughs as easier to unload. His performance is marvelously nuanced, and his subtle and suppressed reactions are spot on.
The most memorable face for casual viewers is that of Richard Kind, former star of Spin City, and an actor that has been in many films over the years. Absolutely no one else could have portrayed Uncle Arthur, and thankfully, Kind evokes a deeper side of his abilities. His chemistry with Stuhlbarg is authentic and touching. Larry’s wife is played by Sari Lennick. This is her first role as Judith Gopnik, and she has a bright career ahead of her. Judith is an intimidating and controlling woman, and witnessing her and Larry in the same room will leave you will no doubts as to why or how they got together. Her new love interest, Sy Ableman, is depicted wonderfully by Fred Melamed. His soft tone, loud wardrobe, and assured presence are just brilliant. One of the funniest moments has Sy and Judith explaining to Larry how their romance will change things.
What makes A Serious Man so unusual and refreshing is that just when one expects the horrible luck to change, it heads down an uglier path until one wonders when Larry will blow his gasket. Larry is up for tenure as a teacher, which is a highly important goal, and he is informed that some anonymous party has been advising the committee to decline his tenure approval, which will not affect their decision. Poor Larry is bombarded with worries that he most certainly did not need. He also receives incessant phone calls from an employee of Columbia House, advising him on what he owes because every “album of the month” that Larry does not decline, is automatically sent and charged to his account. It is amazing that even in 1967 Columbia House was pulling that same annoying policy.
For a script containing such miserable events, with humor so black, A Serious Man is gorgeously shot by Roger Deakins, returning as the Coens cinematographer after a brief absence with Burn After Reading. Minnesota is known for its harsh winters, but during Larry’s issues, it's a bright and sunny area, that exudes a convivial atmosphere to the proceedings. The image on the poster is such an unforgettably staged scene as Larry stands up on his roof observing his neighborhood and what awaits him below. The production design by Jess Gonchor, the art direction from Deborah Jensen, the set decoration by Nancy Haigh, and the costumes from Mary Zophres mesh splendidly with yellows, tans, and browns to suit the period. And Carter Burwell’s score superbly flatters the mood of the hysterically austere circumstances.
This is obviously not the Coens first full-fledged foray into the shaky realm of dark comedy. 2004’s The Ladykillers remake, which was sporadically solid, also represented one of the teams worst efforts. Because A Serious Man possesses a passionate zing and soul that stems from real memories, it is definitely superior, mainly due to the fact that it better compliments the strangeness in style that has built the Coens such a loyal fanbase. Amidst all the impressive characters and personalities in A Serious Man, the one I cannot get out of my head is Larry’s other neighbor, a middle-aged white man who loves to hunt and fine-tune his property. He scowls at Larry because he is Jewish, but when the father of the South Korean student shows up, he immediately jumps to Larry’s side for help with his trimming sheers in hand because to this guy, one must select the lesser of two evils.
The 411: With the unknown cast, the dark humor, and the unusual beginning and end, A Serious Man may not find as large of an audience as previous Coen features. That being said, if it does expand into your area, it is well worth seeing. I loved this movie. I laughed a lot, I enjoyed the performances, and I loved the dedication the crew evidently put forth. I also loved the theme song, Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love”, which was used so wonderfully in the trailer, but is also fantastic in the film itself. Watch this movie, and know that no matter how bad life might be, at least you’re not Larry Gopnik.
