How can the Coen brothers follow up No Country for Old Men and Burn After Reading with this yawn-fest? Apparently it’s a black comedy, but it really isn’t that dark, and I don’t recall laughing even once.

The best scene in the film occurs when the protagonist Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), stands on his roof and perves at his naked female neighbour sunbathing. The only good thing about that scene was that the audience got to see a naked chick. Pfft – she wasn’t even that hot. I did a bit of research and it would seem that the film is intended for a mainly Jewish, even devote Christian audience. Unless you have an unhealthy interest in these faiths – and in many cases people who did still didn’t get it – this film will cruise straight over your head. I’m all down with the Coen’s ambiguous characters and abrupt head scratching endings, but they also usually have some charm.

The characters on offer here are not interesting or engaging, so much so, I cannot be arsed at all going into it. A Jewish guy is getting a divorce, his brother keeps getting arrested, his neighbour is a nude stoner, and his son is preparing for a Bar Mitzvah. The film ends now. That’s it. I hope you enjoyed A Serious Man.
– Doug