Amazon.com: A Serious Man: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Aaron Wolff, Sari Lennick: Movies & TV

Actors: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Aaron Wolff
Format: Multiple Formats, AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: French, Spanish
Dubbed: Spanish, French
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated:
R
Restricted
Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
Run Time: 106 minutes
Average Customer Review: 410 customer reviews
ASIN: B003102JDM
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,667 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #2963 in Movies & TV > DVD > Comedy
- #4174 in Movies & TV > DVD > Drama

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Learn more about "A Serious Man" on IMDb

Vladimir Vinokurov

Finely executed, if somewhat niche, spiritual entertainment.

November 21, 2017

Format: Prime VideoVerified Purchase

In one phrase, this film essentially (and also masterfully and gently - yes, gently, despite all that presumed drama on the screen) tells the viewer that all things in life are connected, but nothing really is what it may seem on the surface.
Beware, this is not a comedy, if only somewhat of a comedy Cohen style - at least I can't title it as such. If I define "Burn After Reading" as a dark comedy and social satire, this is rather a philosophical drama sprinkled with (very) dark humor, more of a spiritually charged glimpse at everyday people's reality, and I suspect that as such it may not appeal to a lot of people. Still, fans of Cohen's filmography and people who are interested in spiritual development may greatly enjoy it... I did, very much so.

7 people found this helpful

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Professor

This is what movies should be

January 23, 2014

The Variety movie critic wrote, "This is the kind of picture you get to make after you've won an Oscar." He is so right. The Coen brothers won four Oscars for No Country for Old Men in 2007. That gave them the artistic liberty to go another route and make a very intelligent, personal movie in 2009, A Serious Man.

No, this isn't a violent, over-the-top blockbuster like No Country. It's a quiet but engaging film that explore man's relationship with God--from a Jewish perspective. And it's insanely funny!

You don't have to be a Jew to appreciate this film. The theme is universal. It's a 1960's version of the book of Job. It's lugubrious throughout. It's black humor, for sure, but it's guaranteed to make you laugh.

The ending is a knockout. Some people didn't like the ending because of its ambiguity. I thought it was perfect.

Films like this are so rare, it's a miracle that the Hollywood moguls allow them to be made. But four Oscars bought the Coen brothers the freedom to do something profound.

Don't miss this.

8 people found this helpful

Jeff

The Coen brothers; you either love them or you don't

July 2, 2017

This is another fine film from the Coen brothers, its relevance and entertainment may be lost on some but it is in many ways, moving art. The Coen's style, subtlety and oddity are not always a straightforward crowdpleaser, but their character nuances and the complications of humans are unparalleled by any filmmaker today. This film is a little bit of a slow burn, but as with many of their other films, it gets deeper and better with repeat viewings.

2 people found this helpful

TheProphetFromTrailopen.com

Bare-knuckles Jewel

March 26, 2010

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

This movie serves well as an Obituary for American Judaism. The "golem" metaphor at the beginning of the movie is a reflection of Judaism itself. I say this as a Jew who has lived in Israel.
The main character's pathetic nature is reinforced by all the worst in modern-day Judaism. This pathetic reflection of a man out-of-touch with himself, wife and kids, remains a harsh reflection of much of Western Culture, stripping bare of what in reality it means to 'yield-to-be-good' in a post-diaspora world.

It is a rare movie that I finish and think to watch again very soon. There is so much power in the exploration of this weak, browbeaten man. I enjoyed the fact that he could appear to be more-than adequate at work, but a total wimp with wife, and stand helplessly cuckolded, even allowing the adulterer to dictate terms to him, and have him move to a motel as the wife's lover prepares to take over the man's wife, home and family.
The bribe business is merely the last piece of himself that he surrenders. He's already surrendered manhood and fatherhood, now he surrenders his integrity, honesty and professionalism even as he gets what he's seeking. The complexity of the summation is only made more beautiful as he gets the medical "bad news," and the tornado is artistic perfection.

It really is a bare-knuckle indictment of modern man as well as Judaism, within its stripping bare of the nonsense and almost paganistic ritualism of chanting irrelevent Hebrew, the glowing parents and his lawyers/co-workers' glowing-reviews of the stoned 13 year-old all combined to make a point brilliantly.

I think in this post diasporic END TIMES, a film like this is a jewel. The dream sequences with the canoe and his brother were phenomenal. The sexy neighbor sequences were great, as you wonder if she will make a man out of him, sort of she's gonna 'save' him type thing with sex and marijuana, and when he suddenly wakes up in that motel room, you feel like it's YOU who have been dropped out of that exciting dream yourself.

Just a great piece of work; brilliantly ending with the approach of apocalypse, which is what this kind of man, replicated by the tens of millions amongst us today, will bring to humanity to hasten its doom.

23 people found this helpful

Media Meowster

A beautifully crafted film with no excess and a great ensemble ...

September 16, 2016

Format: Blu-rayVerified Purchase

Set in 1967 Midwestern America, a Jewish physics professor deals with his personal and professional life unravelling due to misfortune.

A darkly humorous experience, opening with a Yiddish cautionary folktale set in the old country and culminating in 60s suburban America. The most enjoyable elements of the film are its examination of earthly suffering, philosophical ideas and Jewish spirituality, at times both respectful and restrictive. A beautifully crafted film with no excess and a great ensemble of characters.

Lonesome Dove

Life's just life.

October 19, 2012

The jaundiced or cynical film buff first blows off this story as an overly developed, cultural slice of life with an insider's look at the American Orthodox Jewish family. But, that's only the smoke and mirrors. Stepping from event to event, scene to ho-hum scene, through his day while trying to make sense out of apparently bad events, he moves from a family man trying to do the right thing, not get snared morally when confronted with a student bribe, as he allows events to impact him without taking any action besides hand wringing. At this point, you change position in your chair and think about recycling the DVD to the local second hand shop. Hang on. Like 99% of all plots, the protagonist is taken to a new land as he becomes a serious man, then a wretchedly serious man and then? As you hit "stop" on the remote, and wonder why you bought the movie, you realize that it was an Everyman film.....about you and your life. The only difference was the setting and props. ( Helpful would be to read Thornton Wilder's definition about the purpose of life.)

5 people found this helpful

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