12.31.2009

A Serious Man

I can't find anything wrong with it.

It's been a particularly good decade for the Coens (if you forget and forgive Burn After Reading). Everyone is slapping the "mature" label on this latest effort, which though deserved, is like saying No Country For Old Men is a "western," and stopping there. Yes, but?

A Serious Man is also really funny. It's like you're watching emotional slapstick. And this thing I adore about the Coens - they cast these Norman Rockwell type faces who you instantly fall for.

As for maturity, it raises some interesting (sincere) questions about faith and doubt, and respects its audience enough not to hit it over the head with obvious answers or nonanswers.

If the litmus test of a great film is repeatability, then this one wins out - it's the only Awards-season contender I'd actually like to see again.

Honorable Mentions
Moon
Star Trek
Up
Where the Wild Things Are
2012


Not really worth mentioning
Every other movie of 2009? and I saw a mass of them. Hopefully next year will be less boring.

Thoughts?

2 comments :

becca said...

you really liked 2012, or is that a joke? i actually haven't seen it, but i haven't heard many good things. if you tell me otherwise, i'll still see it.

and, ok, i really loved avatar.

did you see/like julie & julia, invictus, ponyo, the september issue, or 9?

Adrienne said...

no, 2012 is no joke. it's like disaster movie porn. it's like, an action movie, cheesy dialogue, etc. but it kept me really really entertained and has incredible visual effects.

i thought avatar looked awesome but had a mediocre story.


i haven't seen those others. i'd really like to see 9.