This is the best Coen Brothers movie; there you go I said it. After watching this for the 3rd time I came to the comfortable realisation that it really is their best work. I think I always knew it, I was just to afraid to say it. Kinda like fancying the girl with the glass eye.
The film is based in 1960's American suburbia where Larry Gopnik is a Jewish university lecturer who is about to face some life changing turning points in his life. A respected man at work; at home it's a different story. His wife isn't happy with their marriage, his daughter is stealing from him whilst having a pot-smoking son who is due his bar-mitz-vah and an oddball brother who actually might be a genius. The film shows Larry go through a series of life challenging tests in a very short period of time and his patience to deal with them.
Yes I'm aware that naming 'A Serious Man' as the Coens' best movie is saying that it's a better movie than 'Miller's Crossing (1990)', better than (my previous favourite) 'Fargo (1996)' and mightier than academy award winner 'No Country for Old Men (2007)'. But I feel that ASM is a their most rounded work. It perfects their signature black comedy style as well their brilliantly quirky brand of storytelling.
Perfectly directed, great acting and ...well I'll let you decide about the ending. Just don't ask me what a dybuk (sp) is.
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