A Serious Man

a serious man
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Physics professor Larry Gopnik is blindsided by his life; his teenage children want nothing out of him unless it’s the fix the television antenna or kick his brother out of the bathroom, a student is trying to bribe him for a passing grade and his wife has just informed him that she wants a divorce so she can marry their friend Sy Ableman. Confused and overwhelmed Larry turns to his three Rabbi’s hoping that they can shed some light on why all of this is happening in his life.

Joel & Ethan Coen make movies unlike anyone else, A Serious Man is by far one of the most unique cinematic experiences released in 2009. In fact, A Serious Man is a film that can’t simply be watched in one viewing and understood – I am still not sure if I completely understood the film. After watching the Coen’s latest best picture nominee I completely understand why it garnered as much recognition as it did, though it is definitely not a film that appeals to the mass audience.

Part of what I enjoyed so much about A Serious Man was the sense of humor behind it. This is not an obvious comedy, but as with anything the Coen’s make there is a sense of humor running throughout it; it’s unique, a bit twisted and more than anything very personalized to the world of their film. The humor in this film comes from the fact that Larry Gopnik is the victim of a tragic comedy and he is completely unaware of it.

There are many themes running through A Serious Man one of the biggest being action & reaction – parallels in lives and situations. Larry & Sy both wanting to be with Larry’s wife, Larry’s son getting to talk to Rabbi Marshak when Larry is never allowed entry to Marshak’s presence, Larry & Sy’s accidents coinciding on the same day, etc. but this is not the only pattern hidden in the film. This film is filled to the brim with symbolism, reference and the mundane and sorting through it will be something film scholars do for generations yet only the Coens will ever know what the meaning behind A Serious Man truly is.

Directors & Writers: Ethan & Joel Coen
Larry Gopnik: Michael Shuhlbarg
Uncle Arthur: Richard Kind
Sy Ableman: Fred Melamed
Judith Gopnik: Sari Lennick
Danny Gopnik: Aaron Wolff
Sarah Gopnik: Jessica McManus

Larry Gopnik: You understand the dead cat? But... you... you can't really understand the physics without understanding the math. The math tells how it really works. That's the real thing; the stories I give you in class are just illustrative; they're like, fables, say, to help give you a picture. An imperfect model. I mean - even I don't understand the dead cat. The math is how it really works.

The Visitor

I wanted to see The Visitor when I first saw the trailer but it was early in the year and I forgot about it…until Oscar nominations came out and Richard Jenkins was nominated for best actor. I promptly added the film to my Netflix and watched it last night.

The Visitor is the tale of Walter Vale, a professor of economics who has effectively checked out of life. Walter teaches one class, co-authored a paper he had nothing to do with, has gone through 5 piano teachers, and basically avoids any and all personal contact above and beyond the bare minimum. However, Walter’s whole life changes when he is forced to present the paper he co-authored in New York; when Walter returns to the apartment he and his wife shared before her death he finds it occupied by a young immigrant couple – Tarek & Zainab who were leased the apartment illegally. Unable to bear the thought of leaving the couple on the street Walter allows them to stay with him until they make other arrangements and forms a friendship with Tarek that changes his life. Unfortunately for Tarek his illegal status is soon found out and he is taken into custody.

I think that Richard Jenkins gave a fabulous performance in this movie, I am not sure that it is the best male performance of the year but it is definitely a wonderful, moving performance in a very compelling film. Walter is a character that goes from being a shell of a person to one with passion and vibrancy and Jenkins really brings this to life. I am not sad that Jenkins was nominated for an Oscar.

I loved The Visitor, I felt that it is a great character study but it also brings to light the unfortunate side of the immigration issue. I’ve never really had feelings one way or another on illegal immigration but watching Tarek appeal to Walter from inside detention did break my heart a little bit. Thomas McCarthy did a great job presenting The Visitor as both an engaging and entertaining character piece without forgetting that it is a movie with something to say.

Director & Writer: Thomas McCarthy
Walter Vale: Richard Jenkins
Tarek Khalil: Haaz Sleiman
Zainab: Danai Gurira
Mouna Khalil: Hiam Abbass
Jacob: Richard Kind

Prof. Walter Vale: You can't just take people away like that. Do you hear me? He was a good man, a good person. It's not fair! We are not just helpless children! He had a life! Do you hear me? I mean, do you hear me? What's the matter with you?