"A Serious Man"

Rated R
1 hour 50 minutes

Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Adam Arkin, Fred Melamed

Those devilishly clever and creative Coen brothers of "Fargo" and "No country for Old Men" fame re-visit their Jewish roots for "A Serious Man".

They've made a dark comedy, a very dark comedy, about a College Professor having a run of bad luck. He's convinced that God must be punishing him for something because everything's going wrong, especially his marriage.

The cast probably won't ring a bell. There are no familiar faces. Michael Stuhlbarg agonizes through his predicament. He digs deep into the mysteries of his Jewish upbringing. Where did he go wrong? He pleads for an audience with the Rabbi for those elusive nuggets of wisdom. There must be some way to justify his fall from grace.

Stuhlbarg's anguish may be stepped in Jewish mysticism, but the biting humor flows from issues that appeal to a universal audience. And the Coen brothers' brilliant style of macabre humor never fails them for a moment.

Michael Stuhlbarg's simply brilliant as "A Serious Man" adrift in a raging sea of desperation. You'' be busy thinking about how this deep, philosophical satire got under your skin.

"A Serious Man" continues the Coen brothers streak of good fortune with 3 stars. "A Serious Man" is just the ticket for serious moviegoers.