I have all the respect and admiration in the world for Joel and Ethan Coen. They make good movies and I generally enjoy them. I even liked Burn After Reading. Clearly, I’m easy. When they release something in December, I’m thinking Oscar bait. And indeed, their latest has garnered a Golden Globe nomination for lead actor Michael Stuhlbarg. I’m in, baby!
But now I have doubt. I went to see A Serious Man. In the theater. The expensive theater. And I fell asleep.
Let’s put this into perspective. My husband routinely falls asleep during movies we watch together. In memory I have fallen asleep during precisely two. He loved them both – but that’s a whole different psychological marital issue that I can discuss sometime with Dr. Phil. And I do not – ever – fall asleep in a theater. So what the hell?
The most basic assumption would have to be that I was tired. And that would be true. But I’m always tired so that’s not a good enough explanation.
The real truth is that the languid pacing did me in and lulled me into a nice mid-feature nap. In a different world, one with less comfortable movie seats, I would have a stunningly eloquent review of A Serious Man for you to read. Instead I will just say that the thing is damned slow and you might want to load up on some caffeine before heading to the theater.
I’m a little disappointed, Joel and Ethan. I trusted you to at least keep me awake.
Sue reads a lot, writes a lot, edits a lot, and loves a good craft. She was deemed “too picky” to proofread her children’s school papers and wears this as a badge of honor. She is also proud of her aggressively average knitting skills. TV and indie movies are her jam.
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