Blu-Ray Review: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen Direct Excellent ‘A Serious Man’

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CHICAGO – One of the byproducts of expanding the Best Picture nominees has been that half of the most notable films of the year in the eyes of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are now available on Blu-ray and DVD including “District 9,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Up,” “Inglourious Basterds,” and now “A Serious Man”.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

The Coens third Best Picture nominee (also nominated for Best Original Screenplay and stupidly snubbed in Best Cinematography considering the beauty of Roger Deakins’ work) is also their most biographical, a period piece about the tough predicament of keeping the faith when hardships befall us for no appraent reason. Is it some higher plan? We are asked to live good, moral lives but sometimes it feels like it gets us nowhere.

A Serious Man was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9th, 2010.
A Serious Man was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9th, 2010.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

“A Serious Man” is about a math teacher, a man used to breaking things down into proofs, trying to navigate perhaps the most morally treacherous window of his life without giving in and breaking the rules that his Jewish faith has set up to guide the way. How do we stick to the rules when we feel like the way is no longer being guided? Joel and Ethan Coen aren’t out to provide the answers to these questions as much as raise them in new, dark, fascinating ways. “A Serious Man” is one of their best films, one that deserved more than two nominations last week but I guess we’ll take what we can get.

A Serious Man was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9th, 2010.
A Serious Man was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9th, 2010.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

The Coen’s man-in-crisis is Larry Gopnik (the brilliantly subtle Michael Stuhlbarg). His wife is leaving him for an older man named Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed). His son doesn’t care about his upcoming Bar Mitzvah and would rather listen to Jefferson Airplane on his transistor radio and smoke pot. His neighbor is a creepy guy who takes his kid out of school to go hunting and pushes Larry’s property line. His brother Arthur (Richard Kind) lives on the couch and may be losing his mind.

His student leaves a wad of cash on his desk in pursuit of a better grade and when Larry brings it up, tries to blackmail him. The nude sunbathing neighbor who speaks of “the new freedoms” is undeniably intriguing but, of course, nothing but trouble. And that’s not even all of it. As the neverending wave of bad luck hits Larry, he turns to Judaism, trying to meet with Rabbis in his community for guidance. They offer more parables, vague guidance, and general support, but Larry is a man whose life is dictated by proofs. And he sees none in his deteriorating life and the film ends with a beautiful shot that seems to suggest that life can always get worse.

“A Serious Man” was reportedly heavily inspired by the youth of Joel and Ethan Coen and has been called their most personal film, although it should be noted that this is far from touchy-feely nostalgia. There is definitely love for Larry Gopnik and his plight but you won’t shed a tear. He’s another good, faithful man who is trying to stay that way when it doesn’t seem to be getting him anywhere.

Like a religious story that only later finds resonance in your own life, “A Serious Man” lingers. You’ll flash back to Deakins’ cinematography, reflect on Carter Burwell’s perfect score, think about a quizzical look from Stuhlbarg, mull over one of the Rabbi scenes or another moment in the film that may have seemed random at first and view it in a new way. And now that it’s on Blu-ray, you can watch it again and again. Most Coen fans will.

“A Serious Man” includes three Hi-Def features - “Becoming Serious,” “Creating 1967,” and “Hebrew and Yiddish For Goys”.

‘A Serious Man’ is released by Universal Home Video and stars Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick, Adam Arkin, and Fyvush Finkel. It was written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9th, 2010. It is rated R.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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