A Serious Man

[anakin]

I agree with most of the reviews here (not yours I'm afraid, Ms T) and wish I had gone home and relaxed on the sofa instead. I'm not a Coen Brothers fan (though I haven't seen the older ones like Fargo or TBL which my sister tells me I'll like) so I don't know why I insist on going to see the films. I shall not do so in the future. I liked the beginning bit, only because I tried to make out what they were saying (yes I know there were subtitles, but where's the fun in that) from my knowledge of German and I did wonder whether the old guy was the third rabbi, but that was inbetween me wondering whether it was possible to walk out (which I have never done before) without disturbing the people who'd have to get up and whether I should leave my sister behind. Sadly, I was trapped and spent the time sighing loudly, getting more and more irritated by the lady beside me with the loud annoying laugh... Also I wondered whether Larry's office was the same one that Robert Redford was in in Lions for Lambs. A thumbs down from me.

[nintendo]

I saw this at haymarket too, and whilst certainly no classic, i felt it was decent enough.
The humour was consistent, and the plot was quirky enough to hold my interest. I felt the whole film was about the disillusion of the American Dream, the protagonist has a nice suburban life that slowly comes apart, the final act, where he changes the exam score, sees a tornado arrive and one boy noting that the American flag is coming off i.e. the dream is over.

7/10

[opas]

I'm afraid I didn't like it much. The Coen Brother's work does tend to polarise opinions but more often than not I like it. I thought Burn After Reading was great. But I found this quite dull and nonsensical (and not in a good way!).

I like dovetail's comparison to the Book of Job- I can definitely see that. But like someone else said I just didn't feel sympathy for the main character at all - and that would have been totally necessary for me to get anything out of this film. I don't think the characters were well rounded enough. Laurence wasn't likeable enough, I didn't hate his wife as much as I could have but I guess his kids were annoying enough!

I don't think you need to be familiar with Jewish culture to get the film but I wonder if you would appreciate some of the quirkiness of the film a bit more in some places. The funny thing is that I recently saw a documentary about divorced Jewish women who were refused the 'gett' (not sure of the spelling) from their husbands and how it impacted their lives later on. I think I found that helpful as I wouldn't have known how important that can be for some (so I appreciated the joke where some of them didn't even seem to know what it was!).

In a strange way, I think I liked the ending the best (and no, not because I could finally leave!) but like nintendo I think I appreciated what they were trying to say - even though it was all very abrupt. Other highlights for me were Clive and his father.

Still I can't say I enjoyed it and I am quite disappointed about that as I had been looking forward to it. Think it may be the worst I have seen this year (even worse than Surveillance!). Maybe we should all just 'accept the mystery!'- oh I can't. 2.5/10.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I think I now know why some Coen Brother films have no meaning and makes no sense. Is it because they are Jewish? At least that's the only message I'm getting from this unfunny, unemotional, meaningless movie that does the complete opposite of promtoting the riches of Jewish culture (whatever those riches are as I dont see any in this movie). I too like most people here did not get any of the Jewish references, which demonstrates the "who gives a..." self indulgence of the Coens. I felt like walking out too. Are we supposed to sympathise with the unlikeable main antagonist? And how typical that the only humorous part was already ruined because we saw it on the trailer already (ie the "he's busy" part). Alright I lie, there were 3 more funny moments, 2 involving the extremely patronising Sy and the abrupt ending of the Rabbi tooth story. So does 3 funny moments qualify as a black comedy? I dont think so.

The beginning. Interesting! Lets see how that connects during the course of the movie...Obviously by the end of the film the Coen's thought, "I know, how about we dont".

The ending. Well I get it. As soon as you do wrong, hell comes for you and your family it seems. Wow. But dont bother show us that because it might be too entertaining. Must maintain the slow burn frustration and suffering levels.

So whats the meaning of the film? That life has no meaning? That only God knows some of the answers? Forget it, the film is so unwatchable, who cares.

Man, there was a time when Coens ruled with The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, and Hudsucker Proxy. What happened to them?

3/10 (1 point for each funny bit in the film)

[giottorossi]

I was at the Haymarket screening last night and have to agree with Ms Thrifty's review. For me it was one of the Coen's best films - I don't understand all the negative feedback.

Definitely 5/5

[ciro22]

In a strange way all these adverse reactions to the film are making me want to see it even more... ha

[tilly]

I saw the film at the haymarket last night and did not rate it at all. In fact I was nearly falling asleep. Would rather have stayed in and watched eastenders!

[anakin]

Wish I could have fallen asleep... would have been more worthwhile!

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I have come to the conclusion that this movie is a woman...I just dont understand it...

[superhero]

Wow so many people went last night, was the whole cineworld haymarket filled with FMUKers?