7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
An original and darkly humorous story about one ordinary man’s quest to become a serious man. Physics professor Larry Gopnik can’t believe his life: His wife is leaving him for his best friend, his unemployed brother won’t move off the couch, someone is threatening his career, his kids are a mystery and his neighbor is tormenting him by sunbathing nude. Struggling to make sense of it all, Larry consults three different rabbis and their answers lead him on a twisted journey of faith, family, delinquent behavior and mortality.
Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick, Aaron WolffDrama | 100% |
Dark humor | 38% |
Period | 34% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Three rabbis counsel a man in crisis. Sound like the setup to a really bad joke? In lesser hands it might be just that, but in the skilled embrace of master filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (forthwith referred to as the Coen Brothers, for dramatic effect of course), it's an oversimplified synopsis of the pair's latest dark comedy, A Serious Man. Both a tale of waning faith and a profound parable of perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds, the film is anything but conventional -- after opening with a bit of fabricated Jewish folklore, it slowly introduces its principal characters, unveils their tribulations, heaps turmoil on top of turmoil, and abruptly ends before its story has a chance to wrap up -- and anything but predictable. In fact, the first time I waded through its seemingly murky waters, I was left confused and bewildered. As a longtime Coen apologist, I've scoffed at many a shortsighted detractor; friends who couldn't wrap their heads around No Country for Old Men, balked at O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and declared Fargo to be cumbersome and aimless. But as the credits rolled on A Serious Man, the words "I just don't get it" lingered on my tongue. Fast forward to my second viewing (a mere twenty-four hours later), one I deemed necessary after I couldn't stop thinking about Larry Gopnik and his misadventures in faith. Thankfully, it was more rewarding than my first.
"The Uncertainty Principle: it proves we can't ever really know what's going on."
With a striking, nearly hypnotic 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer tucked snuggly in its belt, the Blu-ray edition of A Serious Man is a seriously stunning sight to behold. Cinematographer Roger Deakins' artful palette -- whether simmering in Jefferson Airplane oranges and reds, brimming with earthy leatherbound browns, swimming in autumnal oak, or awash with clinical greens and storm-cloud grays -- is strong and stable, populating the presentation with exceedingly natural skintones, alluring primaries, and impeccably resolved blacks. Contrast is remarkable as well, lending the image depth and dimensionality befitting the vast classrooms and cramped offices that dot Larry's descent into hopelessness. And detail? Just take a moment to peruse the screenshots accompanying this review, dear readers. Fine textures have been carefully rendered and refined, definition is incredibly sharp yet incredibly clean (no edge enhancement or ringing here), and delineation is quite revealing. Moreover, artifacting, source noise, aliasing, DNR, and crush are nowhere to be found. Some slight but pesky shimmering is an occasional distraction, but it isn't prevalent enough to warrant much concern. All in all, A Serious Man looks fantastic in high definition. Some will even argue, perhaps rightfully so, that its transfer is a top-tier, reference level presentation. Well done, Universal.
Please note: the Coens' opening segment is accurately presented with a 1.32:1 aspect ratio (see screenshot 13) while the remaining film is presented at 1.85:1.
Be careful passing judgment on Universal's oh-so-subtle DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track during A Serious Man's opening act. Make no mistake, when it wants to be heard, it does so with poise and power. While the majority of the film is a front-heavy, conversational affair, brief but steady eruptions of madness make the whole of the track a truly satisfying experience. Title cards appear with the hearty thunder of a slamming prison cell door, a three-car accident packs notable punch, intermittent '60s classics assault the listener from every direction, a surging storm calls upon the full force of the LFE channel, a face-on-blackboard attack arrives with a wince-inducing thud thud thud, and a rabbi's anecdote is blessed with enveloping sonics that makes its playful soundscape as memorable as his story's intentionally anticlimactic conclusion. Through it all, subdued rear activity delivers realistic interior acoustics and environmental ambience, all of which are a testament to the soundfield's worth. Dialogue remains warm, crisp, and perfectly prioritized regardless of the passivity or aggressiveness of the scene it accompanies, and directional effects are precise and convincing. Don't misunderstand. A Serious Man doesn't boast a bombastic mix or a traditionally immersive track. However, those who appreciate the Coen Brothers' less-is-more sound design will be more than pleased with the results.
Aside from Universal's usual bells and whistles -- My Scenes bookmarking, BD-Live Functionality, and a studio News Ticker -- the Blu-ray release of A Serious Man includes just three featurettes. "Becoming Serious" (HD, 17 minutes), a must-see dissection aimed at those who had a difficult time understanding the film or its characters; "Creating 1967" (HD, 14 minutes), an interesting production tour that focuses on set design, costumes, and props; and "Hebrew and Yiddish for Goys" (HD, 2 minutes), a self-explanatory glossary of sorts that provides rapidfire definitions for some of the Yiddish terms and slang sprinkled throughout the film.
A Serious Man is an unexpected delight; a disarming dark comedy about the toils of life and the mysteries of the hereafter that revels in asking big questions, withholding even the simplest of answers, and submerging its characters in the muck of their tumultuous existences. Some people will need to watch it more than once -- I have a feeling I'll grow to love it even more in subsequent viewings -- but it's yet another unforgettable film from two of the most exciting writers and directors in the industry. Universal's Blu-ray release is commendable as well. While its supplemental package is a thirty-minute disappointment, its video transfer offers a near-perfect presentation and its DTS-HD Master Audio track is a faithful success. Renting A Serious Man is the wisest course of action for anyone who hasn't seen the film, but Coen Brother acolytes will find their money has been well spent on this one.
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