A Serious Man

seayakin · 2nd September 2011, 05:30 PM

I watched "A Serious Man" (Coen brothers) recently and I am rather perplexed and uncertain of what to make of it. Was the movie really about religion or was it about some man's wierd struggle?

Eddie Dane · 6th September 2011, 06:56 AM

Read this and ye shall understand.

Tony99 · 7th September 2011, 01:12 PM

Marduk · 7th September 2011, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Tony99

third time lucky

Eddie Dane · 8th September 2011, 12:33 AM

Did you like the movie?

I felt a little cheated by the ending.
Had the same with No Country for Old Men.

I know some people who were thoroughly disappointed.

H'ethetheth · 8th September 2011, 01:01 AM

Not on topic, but I read somewhere that the scenes are apparently mirrored around the car crash in the middle of the movie. I'd have to watch it again to see for myself, though.

What I got out of it was mostly the Coen brothers' typical weird-****-happens/karma-schmarma-theme that runs through their entire body of work. And the book of Job.

Almo · 8th September 2011, 06:26 AM

I liked it, but I didn't quite get it. Must read up on Job now.

Eddie Dane · 8th September 2011, 08:50 AM

Maybe this whole thread need to be labelled SPOILER.

Halfcentaur · 8th September 2011, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Eddie Dane

Maybe this whole thread need to be labelled SPOILER.

AdMan · 8th September 2011, 09:19 AM

I liked the movie, but what's with the story of the "goy" with the inscribed teeth??

seayakin · 8th September 2011, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by AdMan

I liked the movie, but what's with the story of the "goy" with the inscribed teeth??

My Jewish girlfriend explained to me that got is a gentile but doesn't explain teeth.

Job is the only answer that makes sense. Never could wrap my head around Schrodingers cat.

Halfcentaur · 8th September 2011, 07:16 PM

Wikipedia provides some insight from the Cohen Brothers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_serious_man

2nd September 2011, 05:30 PM	#1
seayakin Muse Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Somewhere on a wave in the North Atlantic Posts: 858	A Serious Man I watched "A Serious Man" (Coen brothers) recently and I am rather perplexed and uncertain of what to make of it. Was the movie really about religion or was it about some man's wierd struggle? In the end, was he being punished by God for taking the bribe?
	__________________ "I kayak, therefore I am"

7th September 2011, 01:12 PM	#3
Tony99 Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 283	They are retelling the book of Job.

7th September 2011, 01:18 PM	#4
Marduk Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Newbury, Berkshire Posts: 10,242	Originally Posted by Tony99 They are retelling the book of Job. third time lucky

8th September 2011, 06:26 AM	#7
Almo Masterblazer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 6,409	I liked it, but I didn't quite get it. Must read up on Job now.
	__________________ Almo! My Blog "No society ever collapsed because the poor had too much." — LeftySergeant "It may be that there is no body really at rest, to which the places and motions of others may be referred." –Issac Newton in the Principia

8th September 2011, 08:50 AM	#8
Eddie Dane Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,432	Maybe this whole thread need to be labelled SPOILER. I remember that there was one thing I didn't get at all: the car accident. If I remember correctly, the protagonist causes an accident that kills his rival. He then walks away from said accident without seemingly remembering the event or having any legal consequences from it, apart from a wrecked car. My memory may be off on this. It seemed like a enormous plot-hole, but was probably a clever little twist I didn't get. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

6th September 2011, 06:56 AM	#2
Eddie Dane Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,432	Read this and ye shall understand.

8th September 2011, 12:33 AM	#5
Eddie Dane Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,432	Did you like the movie? I felt a little cheated by the ending. Had the same with No Country for Old Men. I know some people who were thoroughly disappointed.

8th September 2011, 01:01 AM	#6
H'ethetheth fishy rocket scientist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: among the machines Posts: 2,341	Not on topic, but I read somewhere that the scenes are apparently mirrored around the car crash in the middle of the movie. I'd have to watch it again to see for myself, though. What I got out of it was mostly the Coen brothers' typical weird-****-happens/karma-schmarma-theme that runs through their entire body of work. And the book of Job.

8th September 2011, 09:00 AM	#9
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,965	Originally Posted by Eddie Dane Maybe this whole thread need to be labelled SPOILER. I remember that there was one thing I didn't get at all: the car accident. If I remember correctly, the protagonist causes an accident that kills his rival. He then walks away from said accident without seemingly remembering the event or having any legal consequences from it, apart from a wrecked car. My memory may be off on this. It seemed like a enormous plot-hole, but was probably a clever little twist I didn't get. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? No, he remarks on the insane coincidence of it, and wonders to the young rabi if perhaps they had their accidents at the exact same moment in time. It's unclear, but certainly happened within a small window of time in respect to the two accidents.
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,965

8th September 2011, 09:19 AM	#10
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,197	I liked the movie, but what's with the story of the "goy" with the inscribed teeth??
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,197

8th September 2011, 06:57 PM	#11
seayakin Muse Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Somewhere on a wave in the North Atlantic Posts: 858	Originally Posted by AdMan I liked the movie, but what's with the story of the "goy" with the inscribed teeth?? My Jewish girlfriend explained to me that got is a gentile but doesn't explain teeth. Job is the only answer that makes sense. Never could wrap my head around Schrodingers cat.
	__________________ "I kayak, therefore I am"

8th September 2011, 07:16 PM	#12
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,965	Wikipedia provides some insight from the Cohen Brothers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_serious_man
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,965