Classic Coen Brothers in every sense of the word. This one is more along the lines of Intolerable Cruelty or Barton Fink or Fargo. It follows the human emotion down to the T. Lawrence Gopnik's life is falling apart all around him and he cannot stop it from happening. He can't even seem to slow it down. His daughter is self obsessed like all 17 year old girl's are. His son is days away from being Bar Mitzvah'd, plus he likes the pot. The real kicker, however, is that his wife wants an official Jewish divorce so that she can marry their mutual friend Sy Ableman. Based in the 1960's, the movie has an absolute perfect feel to it. Our hero however, wants it all to end. As I sat and watched, all I thought what how much of a loser this guy was, and everyone in his life knew that and exploited it. He is a college professor on the brink of tenure, but some mistakes may put that into jeopardy. His brother is living with them and he is not a good influence, but the banter between Lawrence and three different Rabbi's, his attorney, his wife, his son, Sy Ableman, and the Columbia Record company. When he and Columbia get into it over the rules of the records being sent to him, there is only one word that can describe it...Genius. That scene right there makes the movie. He is constantly trying to figure out how to "win", but everyone, including himself are keeping him down. More than anything, the movie is about a man looking for answers. Answers of life and not much more. Does he get what he seeks? Not hardly. Instead, I feel he ends up more confused than when he started. In typical Coen Brothers fashion, the film ends in a way open for interpretation by the viewer. I had no idea it was about to end, and then it did. Lawrence may be one of the biggest saps in cinema history. For that alone...
NBM rates A Serious Man - Awesome
No comments:
Post a Comment