A Serious Man (2009)

Directors:

Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Writers (WGA):

Joel Coen (written by) &
Ethan Coen (written by)

Release Date:

9 October 2009 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A black comedy drama centered on Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern professor who watches his life unravel through multiple sudden incidents. Though seeking for meaning and answers he seems to stay stalled.

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | House | Bribe | Professor | Car Crash

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 39 nominations

Cast

Michael Stuhlbarg	...	Larry Gopnik
Richard Kind	...	Uncle Arthur
Fred Melamed	...	Sy Ableman
Sari Lennick	...	Judith Gopnik
Aaron Wolff	...	Danny Gopnik
Jessica McManus	...	Sarah Gopnik
Peter Breitmayer	...	Mr. Brandt
Brent Braunschweig	...	Mitch Brandt
David Kang	...	Clive Park
Benjamin Portnoe	...	Danny's Reefer Buddy
Jack Swiler	...	Boy on Bus
Andrew S. Lentz	...	Cursing Boy on Bus
Jon Kaminski Jr.	...	Mike Fagle
Ari Hoptman	...	Arlen Finkle
Alan Mandell	...	Rabbi Marshak
Amy Landecker	...	Mrs. Samsky
George Wyner	...	Rabbi Nachtner
Michael Tezla	...	Dr. Sussman
Katherine Borowitz	...	Friend at the Picnic
Steve Park	...	Clive's Father (as Stephen Park)
Allen Lewis Rickman	...	Shtetl Husband
Yelena Shmulenson	...	Shtetl Wife
Fyvush Finkel	...	Dybbuk?
Ronald Schultz	...	Hebrew School Teacher
Raye Birk	...	Dr. Shapiro
Jane Hammill	...	Larry's Secretary
Claudia Wilkens	...	Marshak's Secretary
Simon Helberg	...	Rabbi Scott
Adam Arkin	...	Divorce Lawyer
James Cada	...	Cop #1 (as Jim Cada)
Michael Lerner	...	Solomon Schlutz
Charles Brin	...	Hebrew School Principal
Michael Engel	...	Torah Blesser
Tyson Bidner	...	Magbiah
Phyllis Harris	...	Hebrew School Tea Lady
Piper Sigel-Bruse	...	D'vorah (as Piper Sigel Bruse)
Hannah Nemer	...	Sarah's Friend
Rita Vassallo	...	Law Firm Secretary
Warren Keith	...	Dick Dutton (as Warren David Keith)
Neil Newman	...	Cantor
Tim Russell	...	Detective #1
Jim Lichtscheidl	...	Detective #2
Wayne A. Evenson	...	Russell Krauss (as Wayne Evenson)
Scott Thompson Baker	...	Sci-Fi Movie Hero (as Scott Baker)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Landyn Banx	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
Alana Bloom	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
Rita Cannon	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
Matt Cici	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
David Cohen	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest (uncredited)
Amanda Day	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
Devon A Early	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
John Edel	...	1960s Beach Party Attendee (uncredited)
Jon Foss	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
Rachel Grubb	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest (uncredited)
Sherilyn Henderson	...	Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
Steven Wothe Jr	...	Bar Mitzvah and Funeral Guest (uncredited)
Punnavith Koy	...	Physics Nerd (uncredited)
Nicole Kruex	...	Physics Student (uncredited)
Tammara Melloy	...	Mom on the beach (uncredited)
Lauri Mueller	...	Bar Mitzvah and Funeral Guest (uncredited)
Helen Murray	...	Grocery Store Patron (uncredited)
Lisa Pechmiller	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest (uncredited)
Asher Pink	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest (uncredited)
Lisa-Lou Rosenberg	...	Bar Mitzvah and Funeral Guest (uncredited)
Benjamin Terry	...	College student (uncredited)
Joel Thingvall	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Writing credits (WGA)
Joel Coen		(written by) &
Ethan Coen		(written by)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
Ethan Coen	....	producer
Joel Coen	....	producer
Eric Fellner	....	executive producer
Robert Graf	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ethan Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Joel Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth
Rachel Tenner

Production Design by
Jess Gonchor

Art Direction by
Deborah Jensen

Set Decoration by
Nancy Haigh

Costume Design by
Mary Zophres

Makeup Department
Fríða Aradóttir	....	hair department head (as Fríða S. Aradóttir)
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup department head (as Jean A. Black)
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup designer (as Jean A. Black)
Mary Flaa	....	co-makeup department head (as Mary K Flaa)
Deanna Johnson	....	assistant hair stylist (as Deanna L. Johnson)
Carrie Messina	....	assistant makeup artist
Christien Tinsley	....	age effects makeup
Maureen Landa	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Maureen Landa	....	makeup continuity (uncredited)
Cara Sophia Tollefson	....	makeup artist day player (uncredited)
Brenda Torre	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Catherine Farrell	....	post-production supervisor
Karen Ruth Getchell	....	production supervisor
Robert Graf	....	unit production manager
Michelle Wright	....	executive in charge of production: Working Title

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bac DeLorme	....	second assistant director
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Terrence B. Zinn	....	second second assistant director
Dave Halls	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
J. Todd Anderson	....	pen grappler
Steve Anderson	....	construction coordinator
Maria L. Baker	....	set designer (as Maria Baker)
Benjamin Bayne	....	scenic gang boss
Jill Broadfoot	....	art department buyer
John C. Cameron	....	assistant property master (as John Cameron)
John Alan Champion	....	prop maker (as John A. Champion)
Mark Edmo	....	prop maker
Matt Erkel	....	prop maker
Faith Farrell	....	scenic artist
Windy Fleischaker	....	scenic artist
David Franicola	....	prop maker
Garrett Fulton	....	prop maker
Bradley G. Grasser	....	prop maker (as Bradley 'Wiszard' Grasser)
Wayne Grimsbud	....	scenic
Wayne Grimsrud	....	scenic artist
Andrew Gustafson	....	painter
Cate Hahneman	....	art department production assistant
Donavan M. Hake	....	construction gang boss
Kemper Harris	....	on-set greensman
David K. Hartman	....	prop maker
Eric Helmin	....	art department intern
Kelly Hemenway	....	construction gang boss (as Kelly Rae Hemenway)
Gregory Hill	....	graphic designer
Luther Hill	....	painter
Steven Hintz	....	prop maker
Anne Hyvarinen	....	lead scenic artist
Matt Joyer	....	swing gang
Jim Kindt	....	greensman
Brian Koehn	....	prop maker
Sarah Kruchowski	....	swing gang
Janet Lobberecht	....	greens gang boss
Quentin Matthys	....	swing gang
Sam McGlynn	....	art department asset production assistant (as Sahm McGlynn)
Jarrette Moats	....	art department coordinator
Scott Nordhausen	....	on-set dresser
Patrick L. Owen	....	construction gang boss (as Pat Owen)
Dennis J. Perry	....	prop maker
Sarah Regan	....	stand-by painter
Keith Reitmeier	....	prop maker
Brian Rhea	....	prop maker
Renee T. Schendel	....	scenic artist
Jeff Schoen	....	assistant art director
Hans Schumacher	....	scenic artist
Shannon M. Schumacher	....	scenic artist
Bryan Shelley	....	props assistant
Brian J. Simpson	....	swing gang (as Brian Simpson)
Gary Surber	....	construction gang boss (as Gary C. Surber)
Dwight C. Swanson	....	construction gang boss
Ryan Tallant	....	swing gang
Chris Thickins	....	swing gang
Scott Troha	....	lead dresser
Phil Vandervaart	....	signwriter
Mike Wallien	....	construction foreman
Rob Walstead	....	swing gang
Keith Walters	....	property master
Pat Wilson	....	construction utility
Mark Wojahn	....	head greensman
Stephanie Jean Elmer	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Steven Hintz	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Phil Barrie	....	first assistant sound editor
Chris C. Benson	....	utility sound (as Chris Benson)
Craig Berkey	....	sound designer
Craig Berkey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ken Chastain	....	adr engineer
Johnna Chism	....	assistant sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Joel Dougherty	....	foley editor
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randy Johnson)
Peter F. Kurland	....	sound mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
James Morioka	....	dialogue editor
Greg Orloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Byron Wilson	....	dialogue editor
Peter Zimbicki	....	additional sound utility
Eric Harwood	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Jason Oliver	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Larz Anderson	....	special effects coordinator
Paul Deely	....	special effects foreman
Steven Hintz	....	special effects crew (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Oliver Arnold	....	cg supervisor: Luma Pictures
Andy Burmeister	....	junior compositor: Luma Pictures
Alexandre Cancado	....	lead compositor: Luma Pictures
John Cassella	....	senior visual effects artist: Luma Pictures
Vincent Cirelli	....	visual effects supervisor: Luma Pictures
J. John Corbett	....	lead digital artist: Big Film Design
Katie Godwin	....	visual effects coordinator: Luma Pictures
Anthony Grant	....	matte painter: Luma Pictures
Steve Griffith	....	visual effects producer: Luma Pictures
Jennifer Gutierrez	....	junior compositor: Luma Pictures
Jacob Harris	....	roto/paint artist: Luma Pictures
Brent Hensarling	....	senior systems administrator: Luma Pictures
Justin Johnson	....	digital effects supervisor: Luma Pictures
Harimander Singh Khalsa	....	compositor: Luma Pictures (as Michael Cashore)
Jason Locke	....	matchmove technical director: Luma Pictures
Jessica Madsen	....	roto/paint artist: Luma Pictures (as Jessica Bakke)
Artin Matousian	....	systems administrator
Glenn Morris	....	roto/paint supervisor: Lima Pictures
Marla Neto	....	digital coordinator: Luma Pictures
Justin Porter	....	technical coordinator: Luma Pictures
Payam Shohadai	....	executive visual effects supervisor: Luma Pictures
Joey Sila	....	compositor: Luma Pictures
Jared Simeth	....	compositor: Luma Pictures
Safari Sosebee	....	matte painter: Luma Pictures
Steven Swanson	....	visual effects supervising producer: Luma Pictures
James Waterson	....	compositor: Luma Pictures
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals (uncredited)
John R. Hazzard	....	pipeline technical director: Luma Pictures (uncredited)
Pavel Pranevsky	....	CG supervisor: Luma Pictures (uncredited)
Pimentel A. Raphael	....	animation supervisor (uncredited)
Christopher Sage	....	digital environment supervisor: Luma Pictures (uncredited)
Maciek Sokalski	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Kyle Ware	....	visual effects coordinator: Luma Pictures (uncredited)

Stunts
Danny Downey	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Eric D. Howell	....	stunts (as Eric Howell)
Danny Downey	....	stunt double: Michael Stuhlbarg (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tristan Allen	....	rigging grip
Paul Candrilli	....	best boy grip
Peter Clemence	....	key rigging grip
Edward Cohen	....	electrician
Roger Deakins	....	camera operator
James Farrell	....	rigging grip (as James E. Farrell)
Tom Franchett	....	rigging gaffer
Joseph Gallup	....	grip (as Joe Gallup)
Joseph Grimaldi	....	best boy electric (as Joseph L. Grimaldi)
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Craig Hanson	....	electrician
Andy Harris	....	first assistant camera
Travis Hottinger	....	electrician
Travis Hottinger	....	lighting technician
Steven Jacobson	....	rigging electrician
Scott D. Jolstad	....	grip
Maria Juranic	....	camera production assistant
Kevin Karpinski	....	electrician
Cole Koehler	....	camera loader
Mitchell Andrew Lillian	....	key grip (as Mitch Lillian)
Michael Lindquist	....	second assistant camera
Chris Malone	....	rigging electrician
Bill O'Leary	....	chief lighting technician
Timothy O'Toole	....	video assist operator (as Tim O'Toole)
Matt Olson	....	camera production assistant
David S. Pope	....	grip (as David Pope)
Gerhard Riautschnig	....	rigging electrician (as Gerhard Riautshnig)
Joseph Slagerman	....	best boy rigging electric
Darin Spring	....	grip
Jeff Villars	....	electrician
Peter Vongrossmann	....	rigging grip (as Peter Von Grossmann)
Wilson Webb	....	still photographer
Michael Winn	....	best boy rigging grip
Kathryn Criston	....	electrician (uncredited)
Stephen Early	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kati Batchelder	....	extras casting assistant
Debbie DeLisi	....	extras casting
Aaron Greenwood	....	extras casting assistant
Sondra James	....	adr voice casting
Kelly C. McMahon	....	extras casting intern (as Kelly McMahon)
Amelia Rasche McCarthy	....	casting associate (as Amelia Rasche)
Sonja Thorson	....	extras casting intern
Daniel Cummings	....	extras casting intern (uncredited)
Ted Eschweiler	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Todd B. Johnson	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Punnavith Koy	....	extras casting intern (uncredited)
Jennifer A. Wright	....	extras casting intern (uncredited)
Jasmine Zeppa	....	extras casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jan E. Adams	....	stitcher
Virginia Burton	....	costume supervisor: Minneapolis
Lori DeLapp	....	costume supervisor: Los Angeles
Jenny Eagan	....	assistant costume designer
Nikki Fallenstein	....	set costumer
Cynthia Kurkowski	....	stitcher
Corrine Larson	....	key costumer
Joan Lee	....	costume assistant
Melissa Seitzer	....	set costumer
Cerah Tymoshuk	....	costume assistant (as Cerah M. Tymoshuk)
Jane E. Williams	....	key set costumer (as Jane Williams)
Sonja Thorson	....	costumes: post-production (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Zuzana Bochar	....	apprentice editor (as Zana Bochar)
Rick J. Brown	....	colorist: dailies (as Rick Brown)
Buster Jacob Coen	....	editorial intern (as Buster Coen)
Catherine Farrell	....	post-production supervisor
Emma Gaffney	....	first assistant editor
Michael Hatzer	....	supervising colorist: Efilm
Ken Lebre	....	dailies producer
Katie Mcquerrey	....	associate editor (as Katherine McQuerrey)
Loan Phan	....	digital intermediate producer
Lisa Tutunjian	....	digital intermediate editor
George Chavez	....	color timer (uncredited)
Marc Lulkin	....	digital color assist (uncredited)
Philippe Majdalani	....	digital intermediate assistant producer (uncredited)

Music Department
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Michael Farrow	....	scoring mixer
Tony Finno	....	music preparation
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Sandra Park	....	music contractor
Dean Parker	....	composer assistant
Chris Robertson	....	music clearance: Diamond Time

Transportation Department
Carolyn J. Anderson	....	driver
Curtis Wade Anderson	....	driver (as Curtis W. Anderson)
Richard Anderson	....	transportation co-captain (as Richard 'Itchy' Anderson)
Michael Arnold	....	picture car coordinator (as Mike Arnold)
Michael Bakri	....	driver
Mike Bearer	....	driver
Jon Bjornson	....	driver
Denny Braun	....	driver
Guy Eckert	....	driver
Andrew Garski	....	driver
William Gillespie	....	driver (as William L. Gillespie)
Timothy S. Kennedy	....	driver
Steve Kenney	....	driver
Frank Ketchum	....	driver (as Frank L. Ketchum)
Anthony P. Kettner	....	driver
Eugene Kirsch	....	driver (as Eugene Kisch)
Scott Lecy	....	driver
George Lundquist	....	driver
James A. Mahathey	....	transportation dispatcher (as James Mahathey)
Jean-Pierre Molina	....	driver
Gary Olander	....	driver
Byron Roland	....	transportation captain
Rajiv Sarin	....	driver
Leonard Schneider	....	driver
Marc Scott	....	transportation coordinator
Ernest Simon	....	driver
Leo Skudlarek	....	driver (as Leo Matthew Skudlarek)
Greg Viglione	....	driver
Jon Westerlund	....	driver
Fred Whipple	....	driver
Mike Bronge	....	picture vehicles wrangler (uncredited)

Other crew
Christina Angeloudes	....	legal and business affairs manager: Working Title
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer: Big Film Design (as Randy Balsmeyer)
Kris Barberg	....	assistant production coordinator
Cassandra Barbour	....	clearance services: Entertainment Clearances
Colleen Beach	....	office production intern
Andrea Bias	....	office production intern
Tyson Bidner	....	location manager
Megan Alicia Brown	....	additional assistant accountant (as Megan Brown)
Carrie Bush	....	set production assistant
Stephen Clarke	....	set production assistant
Chris Cloud	....	location assistant (as Christopher Cloud)
Kevin Curtin	....	admin/facilities coordinator
Adam DeLisi	....	stand-in: Larry
Kat Donahue	....	assistant location manager
Chloe Dorigan	....	assistant: Tim Bevan, Working Title (as Chloé Dorigan)
Dave Dustin	....	set medic
Rachael Lin Gallaghan	....	production coordinator
Kristopher Gensmer	....	medic (as Kristopher W. Gensmer)
Kurt W. Gensmer	....	medic
Claudia Gray	....	unit publicist
Araceli Guerra	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Patrick Hammer	....	weather guru
Mark Har	....	location scout
Anne Healy	....	assistant location manager (as Anne Healy Shapiro)
David Hickey	....	payroll accountant
Drew P. Houpt	....	the last of the just (as Drew Houpt)
Todd B. Johnson	....	stand-in: Gar
Thomas Johnston	....	script supervisor
Paul Kenney	....	second assistant accountant
Ivan Kerum	....	chef
Mara Kerum	....	chef
Ben Krueger	....	office production assistant (as Ben 'The Kroog' Krueger)
Cheryl Kurk	....	production accountant
Lisa Kurk-Dmytryk	....	construction accountant (as Lisa M. Kurk)
Ken Lebre	....	dailies producer: EFilm
Troy Lochner	....	office production assistant
Jennifer P. Luther	....	first assistant accountant (as Jennifer Luther)
Nikki Martin	....	craft service
David Mathiason	....	craft service assistant
Kai Miller	....	location staff assistant
Angela Morrison	....	chief operating officer: Working Title
Patricia Mary Murphy	....	serious matters
Sean Murphy	....	language and liturgy consultant
Neil Newman	....	language and liturgy consultant (as Cantor Neil Newman)
Jeremy Pierce-Sunia	....	set production assistant
Jonathan Pruett	....	stand-in: Sy and Uncle Arthur
Rachel V. Richardson	....	second assistant accountant (as Rachel Richardson)
Allen Lewis Rickman	....	translator: Yiddish (as Allen Rickman)
Leigh Rydberg	....	stand-in: Danny
Laura Sevier	....	clearance services: Entertainment Clearances
Sheeraz Shah	....	head of legal and business affairs: Working Title
Cara Shine	....	assistant: Eric Fellner, Working Title
Todd Sinkewich	....	office production assistant
Dan Sklar	....	language and liturgy consultant (as Rabbi Cantor Dan Sklar)
Shirah Sklar	....	language and liturgy consultant (as Cantor Shirah Sklar)
Any Thompson	....	office production assistant
Ben Wood	....	location intern
Jennifer A. Wright	....	production assistant
Wendy Zierler	....	translator: Yiddish
Shari Berda	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jean Dalsin	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Adam Davis	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Punnavith Koy	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Punnavith Koy	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Liz Modena	....	post production accountant (uncredited)
Mary Moga	....	studio teacher (uncredited)
Meredith Nunnikhoven	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Shannon Schaefer	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Thanks
Bill Hudson	....	special thanks
Eric Karpeles	....	special thanks
Suzanne Lindbergh	....	special thanks
Steven Lubensky	....	special thanks
Mike Sell	....	special thanks
Don Smith	....	special thanks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Bill Thompson	....	special thanks
Lucinda Winter	....	special thanks
Michael Wong	....	special thanks
Beverly Wood	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Focus Features (presents)
• StudioCanal (presented in association with)
• Relativity Media (presented in association with)
• Mike Zoss Productions (co-production)
• Working Title Films (co-production)

Distributors

• Blue Sky Media (2010) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Alliance Films (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2009) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership (2009) (Russia) (theatrical)
• FS Film (2009) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Face to Face (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2009) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Serenity Entertainment International (2009) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (2009) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (2009) (Norway) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2010) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2010) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Best Film (2010) (Poland) (all media)
• Castello Lopes Multimedia (2010) (Portugal) (all media)
• De Volkskrant (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Complete Coen Brother Collection)
• FS Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2010) (Thailand) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Home Video (2010) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2013) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Luma Pictures (visual effects)
• PlethoraFX (opticals)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance broker
• Behind the Scenes Freight  dailies by
• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Big Film Design  titles and subtitles
• Body, The  music score mixing facility
• C5  foley recording facility
• Clinton Recording Studios  score recording facility (as Clinton Recording Studio)
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Diamond Time  music clearances
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Entertainment Clearances  clearance services
• Filmtools  expendables
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Karen Fried & Associates  publicity
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Murphy PR  publicity
• Otto Nemenz International  cameras (as Otto Nemenz)
• PlethoraFX  opticals
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities (as Post Factory)
• Props On Wheels  picture vehicles & vintage vehicle restoration
• Rescue Resources  set medics
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound re-recording facility
• Technicolor  release printing
• Tony's Food Service  catering
• Trevanna Post  post-production accountant

Also Known As:

"Serious Man" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity and brief violence

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA | UK | France

Language:

English | Yiddish | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45447) | Denmark:11 | UK:15 | Canada:G (Québec) | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Ireland:15A | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:11 | Germany:12 (f) | Singapore:M18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Mexico:B15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Brazil:16 | Japan:PG12 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Uptown Vision Clinic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

Tyson Bidner, the film's location manager, was cast as the magbiah at Danny's bar mitzvah because he had been one in real life. He said the Torah scroll was very heavy and difficult to lift above his head.

Goofs:

Continuity: Larry's first name is spelled differently throughly the course of the movie. The sign on his office door reads "Prof. Lawrence Gopnik", but the letter from Meshbesher is addressed to "Laurence Gopnik" .

Quotes:

[first lines]
Shtetl Husband:What a marvel... what a marvel.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 3 October 2009" (2009)

Soundtrack:

F-Troop Theme

A serious look at human nature!

I just saw this film earlier today and I have to say that it was simply thrilling. Now how can I possible say that it was thrilling when there were zero action scenes, zero suspense, and zero plot? To me, it's exactly because it lacks those things that makes this film thrilling! If you are reading through these IMDb reviews, you already know the general premise of the movie and have likely seen the preview, and so knowing that it is a Coen brothers movie you probably know what kind of film to expect.

One of the things I really love about this film (which others may hate) is because it basically has no plot, and is simply 90 minutes of one middle-aged man's struggles in life, with no type of resolution whatsoever. The tone and slow pacing of the film reminded me a great deal of the film "Sideways(2004)" in that we just see an average guy's struggles with the people in his life, with some comedic moments thrown in occasionally to break the overall depressing mood of the film. Like that film, you are so able to relate to the main character and his problems because his issues and the people he has issues with are so genuine.

And that's exactly why I call this review "a serious look at human nature." All of the great satire is in fact based closely on reality, or realistic events that we can relate to. In this film, the main character's issues are so average and normal (divorce, teenage son experimenting with pot, possible job advancement/work stability, etc.) that they are parts of almost everyone's everyday life. Even the interactions and subplots with the Asian student and the hunting neighbors are so very realistic, which aids in making them hilarious. Even if you are not Jewish, you will still be able to relate to and understand the satire in this film. Some moviegoers with short attention spans will probably hate this film and wonder when the big, explosive fight scene will be or when the Adam Sandler/Will Ferrell stupid fart/gay jokes will start appearing...but of course this film is the exact opposite of typical Hollywood.

Another reason why I am giving this film such a high score is because while watching this film it is clear just how much the Coen brothers simply LOVE making films, and they are only concerned with making the film their way. They don't care about box office profits or a target demographic...they just make films that are personal to them. It's just so refreshing to see. Just look at the attention to detail they will put into one scene of dialogue between characters. Look at the way the glasses' on someone's face are angled, the way the characters' hair is just a tiny bit messy, the way a character holds his yamaka in place while running, the way the lines are set-up and timed perfectly to have the perfect effect on the audience. When you watch this you can just see how dedicated they are to their craft. These guys care so much about creating little details and endearing characters and so little about any kind of recycled plot. Hats off to the Coen boys once again! Shalom!