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A Serious Man

R Released Oct 2, 2009 1h 45m Comedy Drama List
89% Tomatometer 223 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a physics professor at a 1960s university, but his life is coming apart at the seams. His wife (Sari Lennick) is leaving him, his jobless brother (Richard Kind) has moved in, and someone is trying to sabotage his chances for tenure. Larry seeks advice from three different rabbis, but whether anyone can help him overcome his many afflictions remains to be seen.
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Critics 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.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator Does have its delicious moments and Michael Stuhlbarg does give an excellent, exasperated, frazzled lead performance... But without any warmth or expansiveness it all seems too cruelly easy and shrivelling somehow. Aug 30, 2018 Full Review Ed Koch The Atlantic The entire script is a mishmash: funny, droll, and anxiety producing, just like daily life in many Jewish families. Jan 17, 2018 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online See this movie for a good laugh, and know that no matter what's going on in your life, A Serious Man proves things can certainly get worse. Rated: B Sep 11, 2017 Full Review Cory Woodroof For the Win (USA Today) The Coens are some of the most interesting directors to ever explore Biblical dynamics in their movies, and A Serious Man is easily one of their best. Feb 22, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review A tremendously complicated, intelligent, and intriguing motion picture, and arguably the Coen brothers' best, A Serious Man is curious as a narrative but wholly momentous as a parable. Rated: 4/4 Mar 20, 2022 Full Review Eve Tushnet Patheos I loved the Tale of the Goy's Teeth. This parable is worth the (exorbitant) price of admission. Sep 13, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mason M I was surprised while watching this film, how much I saw of myself in Lawrence Gopnik, that I have never seen depicted in film before. His inability to stand up for himself, having trouble finding room to talk in a conversation, his wanting to understand everything. A Serious Man takes what sounds like a terrible concept, and makes it an amazing film with beautiful photography with bright and vivid colors, engaging dialogue, and one of the best lead performances I've ever seen in a film. A Serious Man may not be for everybody, but it was definitely for me. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/02/24 Full Review Joe H What a waste of my time. I expected some interesting ending after all that boredom, but the ending meant nothing. I'll give it 1 star because it captured the 60s pretty well. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/12/24 Full Review 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 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 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 4 out of 5 stars 08/31/24 Full Review Steve P I saw this years ago and it comes into my mind often. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

A Serious Man

A Serious Man: Official Clip - Living Arrangements A Serious Man: Official Clip - Living Arrangements 2:38 A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Columbia Record Club A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Columbia Record Club 2:29 A Serious Man: Official Clip - Hardly a Crime A Serious Man: Official Clip - Hardly a Crime 1:43 A Serious Man: Official Clip - I Am Not An Evil Man! A Serious Man: Official Clip - I Am Not An Evil Man! 1:59 A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Bar Mitzvah A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Bar Mitzvah 3:28 A Serious Man: Official Clip - Impending Storm A Serious Man: Official Clip - Impending Storm 2:21 A Serious Man: Official Clip - Serious as a Heart Attack A Serious Man: Official Clip - Serious as a Heart Attack 1:58 A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Junior Rabbi A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Junior Rabbi 3:19 A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Uncertainty Principle A Serious Man: Official Clip - The Uncertainty Principle 1:59 A Serious Man: Official Clip - Not a Frivolous Request A Serious Man: Official Clip - Not a Frivolous Request 1:57 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a physics professor at a 1960s university, but his life is coming apart at the seams. His wife (Sari Lennick) is leaving him, his jobless brother (Richard Kind) has moved in, and someone is trying to sabotage his chances for tenure. Larry seeks advice from three different rabbis, but whether anyone can help him overcome his many afflictions remains to be seen.
Director
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Producer
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Screenwriter
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
Working Title Films, Studio Canal
Rating
R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Nudity)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 2, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 18, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.2M
Runtime
1h 45m
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