Comedy, even tragicomedy, should not feel like such hard work.
Comment
11/20/09
A Serious Man (2009)
87
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:159
Fresh:138
Rotten:21
Average Rating:7.8/10
Consensus: Blending dark humor with profoundly personal themes, the Coen brothers deliver what might be their most mature -- if not their best -- film to date.
Rated: 15 [See Full Rating]
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:20-11-2009
Synopsis: Imaginatively exploring questions of faith, familial responsibility, delinquent behavior, dental phenomena, academia, mortality, and Judaism - and intersections thereof - A Serious Man is the new... [More]
Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Fred Melamed, Richard Kind, Aaron Wolf
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Reviews for A Serious Man
The film is slow-burning and lugubrious but there is some amusement to be found in the parade of eccentric individuals, running jokes and repetitive dream sequences served up to illustrate the fact that life is one big cosmic joke.
11/20/09
It's impeccable filmmaking, with the Coens' expert writing, directing and editing enhanced by Roger Deakins' vibrant cinematography.
11/20/09
While the plot might not have the epic sweep of No Country For Old Men or be the comedy bloodbath of Fargo, this film is every bit their equal.
11/20/09
Not vintage Coen brothers... but they're still filmmakers to love, even if they sometimes make it increasingly difficult to do so.
11/20/09
The Coen brothers may just have made their masterpiece with this, their 14th feature and yet another hairpin-bend change of direction, which has been their trademark for their entire career.
10/30/09
Top CriticImpressively directed, hugely enjoyable black comedy from the Coen Brothers, with a superb script and a terrific central performance from Michael Stuhlbarg.
10/30/09
A Serious Man simply doesn't care whether or not you like it. In part, I think that's exactly why I do like it: The "take it or leave it" attitude is refreshing.
11/26/09
On some level, the Coens' flippancy is self-protective. But there's fascination and pleasure in their trick of constructing a film like a theorem where nothing adds up.
11/19/09
It's cinema at its best, leaving your mind in motion long after the final credits have rolled.
11/19/09
A Serious Man takes [the Coens'] caustic brand of chicanery to a whole new level.
11/19/09
Perhaps the emperor is actually wearing clothes and I just can't see them... I came out of the movie theatre feeling disgruntled and a little cheated. See it for Stuhlberg and Lennick, and for Roger Deakin's unfailing cinematic eye.
11/19/09
The result is a wonderfully dry and witty comedy which is pitch-perfect in tone.
11/18/09
The talent of the Coens is such that they make this film eminently watchable, absolutely enjoyable and utterly engaging despite the fact that it's never entirely clear why we're seeing it in the first place.
11/17/09
A Serious Man is undeniably attractive, though it's certainly a story of a certain flavour and one that's not to all tastes; how compelling it remains is a question of enthusiasm for their determinedly oddball approach.
11/17/09
It's also a dark, sometimes profound film that almost certainly sits amongst the best of this year and it's yet another badge on the decorated jackets of Hollywood's most accomplished filmmaking duo.
11/15/09
For those who thought No Country For Old Men was too lightweight and resolved itself too neatly, behold the abyss that is A Serious Man.
11/15/09
You're unlikely to react with much more than a shrug.
11/15/09
Often subtle, often outrageous and perhaps selfish film (they didn't make it for us, they made it for themselves but we can share it); those who approach the film with a genuine curiosity will get something out of it
11/13/09
I guarantee Woody Allen will love this film just as I do, for its truthful depiction, great characterisations and bite. The beginning is a surprise, too
11/13/09
Latest News for A Serious Man
October 19, 2009:
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September 25, 2009:
Friday Harvest: A Serious Man, Up in the Air, and more!
Happy Friday Harvest, a weekly round-up of the best pictures, posters, and videos that have become available for viewing/download on Rotten Tomatoes. Each section features the... More...
September 09, 2009:
Buzz Builds for Toronto International Film Festival Offerings 
It'll feature more than 250 films from 60 countries, but don't feel overwhelmed -- the Los Angeles Times is here to help you sift through what's on offer at this year's Toronto... More...
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