BBB

(out of 5)

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Larry Gopnik’s quiet life as a physics professor is going perfectly until things begin to unravel in record time. His gambling-addicted, unemployable brother (Richard Kind) has moved in with the family and is driving everyone crazy. Gopnik’s wife reacts by announcing that she’s leaving him for another man. His son’s behavioural issues in Hebrew school are making him a disciplinary problem, and his daughter is stealing money from his wallet to save up for a nose job. Car accidents, sexy neighbours, a disgruntled student with the intent to bribe, and a whole slew of wild events happen to a Jewish family in a peaceful Midwestern town in his highly stylized but emotionally sterile film from the Coen Brothers. The film features a strong element of sophisticated comedy and incredibly good acting, but where is the sympathy and humour that made us cling so much to the protagonists of movies like Fargo and Raising Arizona? This film features both the best of a Coen brothers experience, the gorgeously memorable images, and very worst from movies like Miller’s Crossing, a plot that sags under the weight of its own cleverness and never solidifies enough to make for compelling viewing.

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Focus Features, StudioCanal, Relativity Media, Mike Zoss Productions, Working Title Films

USA/United Kingdom/France, 2009

Directed by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Screenplay by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Cinematography by Roger Deakins

Produced by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Music by Carter Burwell

Production Design by Jess Gonchor

Costume Design by Mary Zophres

Film Editing by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Film Festivals:  TIFF 2009

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Cast Tags:Aaron Wolff,Adam Arkin, Alan Mandell,Allen Lewis Rickman, Amy Landecker, Andrew S. Lentz, Ari Hoptman,Benjamin Portnoe, Brent Braunschweig, Charles Brin,Claudia Wilkens, David Kang, Fred Melamed, Fyvush Finkel,George Wyner, Hannah Nemer, Jack Swiler,James Cada, Jane Hammill, Jessica McManus, Jim Lichtscheidl, Jon Kaminski Jr.,Katherine Borowitz, Michael Engel,Michael Lerner, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Tezla,Neil Newman, Peter Breitmayer, Phyllis Harris,Piper Sigel-Bruse, Raye Birk, Richard Kind, Rita Vassallo, Ronald Schultz, Sari Lennick, Scott Thompson Baker, Simon Helberg,Steve Park, Tim Russell,Tyson Bidner, Warren Keith, Wayne A. Evenson,Yelena Shmulenson

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Academy Award Nomination
Best Picture (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, producers)
Best Writing (Original Screenplay) (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen)

Golden Globe Award Nomination
Best Performance By An Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Michael Stuhlbarg)

New York Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Cinematographer (Roger Deakins)

National Society of Film Critics Award
Best Screenplay (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen)

National Board Of Review Awards
Best Original Screenplay (Joel Coen, Ethan Coen)
Top Ten Films

Writers Guild Award Nomination
Best Original Screenplay

British Academy Award Nomination
Best Screenplay (Original)

Independent Spirit Awards
Best Cinematography
Robert Altman Award (Ethan Coen (director), Joel Coen (director), Ellen Chenoweth (casting director), Rachel Tenner (casting director), Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, Jessica McManus, Fred Melamed, Michael Stuhlbarg, Aaron Wolff)

Nomination
Best Director (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen)

Boston Film Critics Award
Best Screenplay

Nominations
Best Film
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Ensemble Cast

Chicago Film Critics Award Nominations
Best Picture
Best Actor (Michael Stuhlbarg)
Best Director (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen)
Best Screenplay, Original

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