Comments on: TFT 97 – A Serious Man / Amelia / On Nostalgia / The Room

By: DVDs Out This Week « god is not elsewhere / some conversation about movies, art, politics and spirituality with gareth higgins

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:17:26 +0000

[...] that expresses some of the best and worst of what religion can mean in about three minutes. We talked about it on the show, and it’s available on DVD and Blu-Ray today. It’s really something [...]

By: The Film Talk » It’s Tuesday, So It Must Be The TFT DVD/Blu-Ray and Miscellaneous Other Digital Media Report: Rising Sun, Un Chien Andalou, A Serious Man, Peter and Vandy, and As it is in Heaven

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:15:16 +0000

By: The Film Talk » A Serious Plan

The Film Talk » A Serious Plan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:01:23 +0000

[...] I sat together through a couple of hours of pure cinematic expression, as the Coen Brothers’ ‘A Serious Man’ unfolded before us. Larry Gopnik, the protagonist of this film, one of the most exciting and [...]

By: Jett Loe

Jett Loe — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:27:12 +0000

I think you're absolutely right re: the intentional shifting of focus to Arthur to put things in perspective – also notice the absence of water in the pool contrasted with the Canadian Dream Lake – the Coen's are great filmmakers: am glad they're around making pictures!

By: Cole

Cole — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:03:21 +0000

Really enjoyed your analysis of A Serious Man. It is a very complex and resonant film, and your guys' comments reflect this. As you mentioned Jett, this is not a phlegmatic film, and for me the emotional centerpiece comes when Richard Kind's character, Arthur, is sitting by an empty pool at the Jolly Roger, lamenting about how God has blessed Gopnik with so much and given him nothing. Suddenly the focus shifts from Gopnik and a “why me?” mentality to the even more profound suffering of Uncle Arthur and the universal hardships that everyone endures. Or perhaps it is a commentary on the “why me?” mindset and the nature of human suffering, or the ancient question of suffering in relation to a supposedly loving Creator. This is the shift in perspective I experienced as a viewer, and whether or not it was the filmmakers' focus, I found it to be a very powerful turning point. This is then of course subjugated by a melodramatic and typically deceptive dream sequence, which I think is part of the Coens genius in maintaining some ambiguity instead of sentimentality. Thanks again for your insight guys!

By: Jett Loe

Jett Loe — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:27:12 +0000

By: Cole

Cole — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:03:21 +0000

By: Tweets that mention The Film Talk » TFT 97 – A Serious Man / Amelia / On Nostalgia / The Room -- Topsy.com

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:11:23 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gareth Higgins, Jason Bellamy. Jason Bellamy said: A strong take: RT @thefilmtalk A Serious Man is the Coen Brothers Best Film, a podcast analysis: http://bit.ly/2Lkqgs [...]

By: Problem of the Day: Has Martin Scorsese made a Ghost Story? And if so, What am I going to do about it? « god is not elsewhere / some conversation about movies, art, politics and spirituality with gareth higgins

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:48:30 +0000

[...] – must – feature ‘This is It’ (and if you heard our preview at the end of Episode 97 you’ll know just how much we’re looking forward to that particular endeavor, although [...]

By: The Film Talk » Problem of the Day: Has Martin Scorsese Made a Ghost Story? And if so, What am I Going to do About It?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:44:15 +0000

[...] TFT 97 – A Serious Man / Amelia / On Nostalgia / The Room [...]