A Serious Man
This is a crosspost from MoreMediaNonsense
The latest Coen brothers film really is a tour de force but it’s as bleak as you can imagine and definitely not a feel good experience.
The story concerns a middle aged Mid West physics professor and the disasters that beset him seemingly out of the blue in mid Sixties Minnesota. The action is all set within the local Jewish community so much so that the only non-Jews are peripheral (sometimes red neck) outsiders.
The customs and ceremonies of immigrant Jewish life are observed with (to put it mildly) a jaundiced and humorous eye to such an extent that it could be said to approach mockery. Think Woody Allen on turbo charge.
But this is also a philosophical and intellectual study on religious belief, causality and morality at an engaging and complex level. Its also (delightfully) a meditation on Jefferson Airplanes’ “Somebody to Love”.
Quite a film in other words. Definitely one to see.
Comments
| 17 December, 2009, 1:25 pm |
It is worth reading the comments on imdb, especially regarding the interpretation of the ending. (spoiler warning).
| 17 December, 2009, 7:05 pm |
It is worth reading the comments on imdb, especially regarding the interpretation of the ending. (spoiler warning).
Someone troubled to interpret it? I thought it was just one big shaggy
dog story. Maybe I was just too lazy to think about it. Great film though.
| 20 December, 2009, 3:50 pm |
I love sombody to love. Seen Jim Carrey’s version?
So you don’t agree with Howard Jacobson’s view of ASM?
| 20 December, 2009, 8:11 pm |
I was amazed that a general release film could have an opening sequence of 10 minutes or so in Yiddish wish subtitles.
| 22 December, 2009, 8:34 pm |
‘I was amazed that a general release film could have an opening sequence of 10 minutes or so in Yiddish wish subtitles.’
It’s the Coen Brothers so they’re a guaranteed an audience – myself included – so they’re granted a little leeway others might not.
Anyway, subtitles are less taboo than a few years back: even mainstream TV hits like ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lost’ use them.
| 5 January, 2010, 10:23 am |
I’ll try to borrow a copy of somebody to love ..they say it’s really nice ( the Jim carey version). 
| 5 January, 2010, 12:10 pm |
The Coen brothers are just remarkably talented, even though I dont like the “old” style of their movies. On the other hand it is something different which is probably the reason why they are that successful.
Lets see if it will be a “must see”.
| 7 January, 2010, 1:07 pm |
I watched this Coen brothers film and yes, this is worth watching because I learned interesting and fun things about religious beliefs. Two thumbs up for this movie!
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