A Serious Man (2009)

There's no one who knows how to find the funny in the horrible quite like the Coen brothers. They're unafraid of putting the characters in A Serious Man through the wringer, but the film never feels bleak or depressing the way it might in other films. Instead, the film is heartfelt in its horribleness, and humorous no matter what happens.

This isn't one of the Coen brothers' best. The dialogue isn't as sharp as I'd expect from them, and not all of the film's non-sequiturs work for me. However, even a so-so movie from the Coens is pretty swell, and the powerful performance from Michael Stuhlbarg makes it even better. It isn't a must-see, but it's worth your time.

3 members of the airplane out of 5.