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**Peptobismol** · 02-13-2010, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by kid-glove And it's perhaps a bit biographical with Jewish lineage, and in mid-western unnamed setting, reminiscent of their childhood. A lot more than say Barton Fink, which was a gothic representation of Jew protagonist confounding with "Hollywood studio system" to write a script, adapt into establishment. In fact, there are no life lessons to be taken at all by the protagonist in "A Serious man". It's like how the second rabbi in the philum would say "who cares?!", or maybe to some others, how the first rabbi would say "with the right perspective, you can see Hashem"

I thought it was a damn funny take on the Book of Job. Partly. Interesting how the Coens set up that prologue as precursor for the unanswered, the crisis (of the protagonist) and the ending of the film. The opening Rashi quote "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." is a nice way to rub in to Larry.

Besides, much unlike Book of Job, the film doesn't really bludgeon the audience into exegesis and call for life lessons, in fact it's quite opposite. Through both the Gopniks, it's a forewarning/spoof of sorts. OF course, like the contradicting foreword and closing of Fargo. "No Jews were harmed in the making of this movie" here is

It wasn't damn funny in a rigid sense. It wasn't all-out farce, and surely Coens aren't Marx Brothers or Woody allen, as exponents of farce. It has its funny moments through character's plight and conscious setting up by Coens. It's not screwball or gag humor either.

02-13-2010, 09:15 PM	#26
Peptobismol Join Date Oct 2005 Age 58 Posts 4,386 Senior Member	Originally Posted by kid-glove And it's perhaps a bit biographical with Jewish lineage, and in mid-western unnamed setting, reminiscent of their childhood. A lot more than say Barton Fink, which was a gothic representation of Jew protagonist confounding with "Hollywood studio system" to write a script, adapt into establishment. In fact, there are no life lessons to be taken at all by the protagonist in "A Serious man". It's like how the second rabbi in the philum would say "who cares?!", or maybe to some others, how the first rabbi would say "with the right perspective, you can see Hashem" I thought it was a damn funny take on the Book of Job. Partly. Interesting how the Coens set up that prologue as precursor for the unanswered, the crisis (of the protagonist) and the ending of the film. The opening Rashi quote "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." is a nice way to rub in to Larry. Besides, much unlike Book of Job, the film doesn't really bludgeon the audience into exegesis and call for life lessons, in fact it's quite opposite. Through both the Gopniks, it's a forewarning/spoof of sorts. OF course, like the contradicting foreword and closing of Fargo. "No Jews were harmed in the making of this movie" here is It wasn't damn funny in a rigid sense. It wasn't all-out farce, and surely Coens aren't Marx Brothers or Woody allen, as exponents of farce. It has its funny moments through character's plight and conscious setting up by Coens. It's not screwball or gag humor either.
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