A Serious Man

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Kim P Imagine Norm McDonald, wandering through a home as family and friends sit shivah, jotting down incomplete bits of anecdotes and family stories, then trying to make a joke of all he gathered, ultimately forgetting the punchline. That would be more entertaining than this pointless film. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/27/24 Full Review Test T I watched this on DVD. I enjoyed several of the other Coen Brothers' films I've seen, so I was looking forward to this one. However, I struggled with it because of the many Jewish cultural references in it which I didn't understand. The story appears straightforward, at least superficially, but it seems to me to be making a big deal of trivial subject matter. Overthinking, at a frustratingly slow pace is how I would sum it up. That's not to say that the film is bad, and I found some of the parts I understood to be interesting. I also thought it started very obscurely, and ended very abruptly, which left me feeling indifferent and unsatisfied. Afterwards, I watched some of the DVD extras to see if I could make more sense of it all. It helped a little, but I've concluded that the movie was made to emphasise the uncertain nature of life. It's just meant to destabilise people and make them think! That's OK, but I still prefer the Coen's other movies. I can't really recommend this one. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/18/24 Full Review Larry T I've tried watching A Serious Man a few times over the years. The first time, I was disappointed by its lack of the dark comedy or tense, twisty plotting I'd come to expect if the Coen brothers. This most recent time, I tried to watch without any preconceived opinions. As a story, there's not much there. It's about a beleaguered guy who never wins. I'd say unless someone is very familiar with Jewish culture, they might see it the same way. This movie is bold, daring non-Jewish viewers to figure out the Jewish terminology, customs and attitudes. Casting was seemingly done by someone on a mission to find every stereotype represented. They did a great job, as did the terrific cast. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review Steve P I saw this years ago and it comes into my mind often. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Sundance C A disappointing offering from the brothers Coen. Story meanders and the pacing is choppy and one-speed navel gazing. Plotline and character arcs disconnected. A real step down from two of the best filmmakers around. Quality and depth nowhere close to the level of Blood Simple, Miller's Crossing, Oh Brother, even the Big Lebowski. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Meh, not my cup of tea... The intro was really interesting, but as the time passed, I just kept yawning. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

A Serious Man

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