I'm not Jewish. Most of my friends that are Jewish, never share the secret phrases and codes that are apparently common phrases within the faith and community. So as a Goy, I'm pretty much ignorant of the customs and practices of Jewish society.

As a result, watching A SERIOUS MAN was a bit like watching A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, but if Alex was a middle-aged married man with two kids living in the suburbs and was tormented every bit as much as Alex... although a large amount of that torment was self-inflicted, self-loathing and based upon fear of his own religious practices. The lead character is Larry Gopnik, played by Michael Stuhlbarg - an actor that has appeared on Television, but certainly hasn't led a cast of a film of this quality, but in the hands of the Coen Brothers... he's absolutely the center of my attention from the second he appears, till his last shot. That's the power of the Coens. They craft films that perfectly frame and feature their lead characters in a world that makes them the center.

This film, feels like the Coen Brothers are taking the piss out of being Jewish, while celebrating being Jewish and they show what it must've felt like to be Jewish at the time that they themselves were children. This feels like a fable, like a story they would tell their children, because... well they're the Coen Brothers and they can tell fables as great as this, as culturally resonant as this and as horrifyingly funny as this.

It's pretty widely known that this is loosely based on the story of Job, but by no means does it adhere to that story's confines. Mainly because... well, you'll see the liberties they take.

So - how bad does Larry have it?

Oh - it most certainly sucks to be Larry. He's a physics professor at a university on the cusp of tenure. Apparently someone is writing letters to the committee that would grant him tenure, that suggest that he's not a good candidate - and possibly has done some wrong doing. He's got a bit of a complicated "Bribe" situation that he doesn't know quite how to deal with. His son has Television reception problems, Bully problems and a pot habit. His daughter wants to chop an inch or so off her nose and is stealing money for the procedure. His wife. Well, she wants a divorce - more importantly she wants a "Get" which is some manner of Jewish Divorce, that would keep her in good standing with the faith. And she puts it on him to get the "Get". This is not an easy thing to do. Seeing a Rabbi is tough. Getting a Rabbi to give you what you need... apparently harder. And everything... everything that I've stated gets infinitely more complicated with every passage of every reel.

By the end of this film - you know - It's going to get far worse than anything that has happened in the film. And in many ways - it is absolutely Larry's fault for taking a step from the path of being A Serious Man. Which I think has something pretty serious to do with your standing with God.

I've heard that Larry is somewhat modeled upon the Coen's own father. I hope he was luckier than Larry. I'm sure the character of Larry Gopnik is layered by many people that the Coens know. That this is a film painted with brushstrokes covering much of their life and their own understandings and interpretations of the Jewish faith. It is an exquisitely crafted film and the sort of movie that I can't wait to discuss with my friend, "The Jew."

"The Jew" is one of my dearest friends. A great deal of our friendship covers poking fun at nearly everything explored in this film. Little commonalities & quirks that he shares with Larry Gopnik. And I'm betting that he's had every dream that the Coens have captured from the subconscious of Larry Gopnik.

Now - I'm not saying you must have or know a friend of the faith to enjoy this film. You don't have to be Jewish to love the film. But it certainly wouldn't hurt. They will laugh at things you probably wouldn't catch. And afterwards... you'll have a pretty amazing conversation. In many ways, the film made me realize... I've got some reading to do, because I can more throughly torture my friend, "The Jew," with a greater understanding. And that is something very important to our eternal friendship.

Regarding the film - the reason it is such a delight is that it is an introduction to so many things unfamiliar. From the various cultural references or the actors inhabiting pretty much every role. The best part? They're all absolutely perfect. The Bar Mitzvah is terrifyingly hilarious - and I hope it is one of the Coens'!

I know I'm not revealing a lot about this film, but frankly... it shouldn't be revealed. Not that there are giant twists and turns - those are here, but frankly... every character is a delight to discover. And they shouldn't simply be written about, they should be taken in as the Coens intended. You need to discover this world, the decor, the schoolbus, the way they all talk. In many ways the film reminds me of PULP FICTION. It isn't as POP as that, but it is a created universe. It is a whole world that these characters inhabit - one that may figure into reality at some level - but certainly not my reality. It is their world and the most common feeling I have coming out of a Coen film is a feeling of gratitude. I'm so grateful to see a film so perfectly crafted. Films that every time out, I'm completely captivated by. And in many ways, each of their films become a touchstone to a different friend in my life. They make films that you enjoy with different friends, the same friends, new friends. But not Massawyrm. He doesn't like their films. Which just never fails to just BLOW MY MIND.

But that's a whole other article for another day. For now, Go see A SERIOUS MAN!!!