Award-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen’s film “A Serious Man” is up for their fourth Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay as well as Best Motion Picture of the Year. The Coen brothers have so far been nominated for 10 Academy Awards throughout the course of their careers.
“A Serious Man” is a black comedy that follows the life of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) and the ongoing struggles he encounters in his life. In the midst of its deep themes – an unfaithful wife, ungrateful children, troubles at work, loss and tragedy – there are witty one-liners and humorous situations that cannot help but make you laugh out loud.
Larry Gopnik, a Jewish college professor with a troubled family, work environment and relationships seeks the help of three rabbis but never receives the advice and guidance he hopes to hear.
The plot develops with signature Coen brothers’ style and creates a poignant, yet humorous story. The dialogue in this film is dark humor at its finest; a characteristic that makes this film’s screenplay Oscar-worthy.
The ability for the Coen brothers to create a screenplay with such an array of emotions is what truly sets the Coen brothers apart from other writers.
Their movies can make you laugh and cry at the same time. The Coen brothers are known for their clever use of wit, irony and dialect in their screenplays, which is one of the many qualities that make the work of the Coen brothers so captivating and deserving of an Oscar.
Their films are a package deal; great screenplay, great actors and great cinematography. To me, their films are the ones you watch that leave you with a feeling of satisfaction. “Wow, that was a great movie” is always the phrase that comes to mind after I watch one of their films – never disappointment.
Their films have an overall effect of being exceptional; everything from the extras in the background to the musical score. The Coen brothers’ movies seem to cater to people like me, who have an off-beat sense of humor and enjoy clever dialogue and catchy plot lines.
“A Serious Man” is one of the many outstanding films to be nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Picture this year. The excellence of their work is reflected in this honor and will no doubt continue to pave success throughout the Cohen brothers’ career.