Focus Features | Release Date: October 2, 2009
6.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 336 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
209
Mixed:
65
Negative:
62
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)
5
JonesBOct 15, 2009
Root canal surgery was less painful to endure. It would probably be viewed as anti-Semitic to judge the main adult characters as confused sheep who would be easily led to the abattoir, but I found myself daydreaming of the joyous potential Root canal surgery was less painful to endure. It would probably be viewed as anti-Semitic to judge the main adult characters as confused sheep who would be easily led to the abattoir, but I found myself daydreaming of the joyous potential of a car crash taking out our protaganist, Larry, or better still... his wailing shrew of a wife. A serious man, he asks? How about a serious schmuck. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
StuO.Oct 14, 2009
What a terrific movie! Don't miss it.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
9
JoshE.Oct 12, 2009
Excellent, timely, and brutally dark. I am surprised to say this is one of my favorite Coen films. We're all Larry Gropnik... teetering on the edge... ready to unravel at any moment... just trying to understand "what's going on." A Excellent, timely, and brutally dark. I am surprised to say this is one of my favorite Coen films. We're all Larry Gropnik... teetering on the edge... ready to unravel at any moment... just trying to understand "what's going on." A very good film. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
alanOct 12, 2009
If its not true its not funny. This is funny.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
SSOct 12, 2009
Very entertaining for people familiar with jewish culture. Non-jews will not get much of the humor. Probably not for middle america
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
JanYOct 11, 2009
I love it! It's a film that reminds all of us - whatever our religions - that faith is about the Will of God, and not about the superstitions, suspicions, myths, and legends that are being passed to us. Even though the Coen I love it! It's a film that reminds all of us - whatever our religions - that faith is about the Will of God, and not about the superstitions, suspicions, myths, and legends that are being passed to us. Even though the Coen Brothers' film is based on a faith and culture they are familiar with, I'm already smiling at being reminded of traditional cultural customs and superstitions that were handed down to my siblings and me by our grandparents/parents deemed to be part of our faith! I'm also tickled by the idea that the characters live in an isolated, suburbia community of the 1960s. Boy, oh boy, I love the thought that time, education and a diverse sharing of ideas by folks in advance times and ities, may be the answer to tolerance and living with our peace of mind. The uncontrolled event at the film's finale wonderfully bring me back to the film's introduction of "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you" as well as the story of the Dentist who finally is able to get rid of his nightmares and finds peace of mind. God wills and we have to learn to accept our own fate without nightmarish excuses! . Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
4
DWillyOct 11, 2009
Not bad enough to ruin the Coen Brothers reputation with me, but another sad step further in the egocentric, over-broad, nothing-means-anything direction of "Burn After Reading." It would be slow anyway, without any real plot, but on top of Not bad enough to ruin the Coen Brothers reputation with me, but another sad step further in the egocentric, over-broad, nothing-means-anything direction of "Burn After Reading." It would be slow anyway, without any real plot, but on top of that the characters were inconsistent in their behavior; so it was I became disengaged, and started wondering if such a blanket portrayal of jews as ineffectual and confused in their values was amusing to the Coens, or if it in some way feels good for some Jews to show themselves this way in order to appear harmless to a larger population that might be otherwise inclined to persecute them. In any case, there's no mistaking this movie is deeply anti-semetic... also, just sloppy and not that good. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
ReidFOct 10, 2009
Snide, obnoxious, vapid people doing awful things to each other, this movie is total garbage.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
4
NickiROct 10, 2009
Gone is the magic of the Coens. Save your money and enjoy Millers C, Lebowski, Barton F and/or Blood S instead.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
5
NormGOct 9, 2009
Not as funny as I thought it was going be. The humor was there but on slow boil. No big laugh out loud moments as there were in the much dismissed (by others) Burn After Reading. I have a distain for using a nightmare sequence to interject Not as funny as I thought it was going be. The humor was there but on slow boil. No big laugh out loud moments as there were in the much dismissed (by others) Burn After Reading. I have a distain for using a nightmare sequence to interject some illogical humor. There at least three such scenes here. A mostly unknown cast (except for maybe Richard Kind and Adam Arkin) and the mostly unknown stage actor, Michael Stuhlbarg, has to carry the film. He wore on me. As his character Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
9
susanwOct 3, 2009
Dark, dark comedy, absolutely hilarious without a shred of sentimentality. Brilliant, though I was perturbed that almost every female character is monstrous, whereas only some of the men were.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
PJPOct 2, 2009
A work of great and hilarious beauty.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
8
brianOct 2, 2009
This movie was really funny. it includes a lot of aspects of philosophy (existentialism and nihilism at least, possibly fatalism) and it's pretty well done. the whole movie is about the level of unpredictability there is in the universe This movie was really funny. it includes a lot of aspects of philosophy (existentialism and nihilism at least, possibly fatalism) and it's pretty well done. the whole movie is about the level of unpredictability there is in the universe and our lives. it's important to remember that throughout the whole movie this man is purely trying to find answers. a lot of people were disappointed by the ending but you have to put it in scope with the rest of the movie to truly see why it was the perfect ending. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
DianaK.Oct 2, 2009
Life is hell and then you die. Job in a Jewish Minneapolis suburb. The ([professional) audience with whom I saw this well-made but willfully nihilistic movie sat in stunned silence when it "ended." Then they slunk out of the theater and went Life is hell and then you die. Job in a Jewish Minneapolis suburb. The ([professional) audience with whom I saw this well-made but willfully nihilistic movie sat in stunned silence when it "ended." Then they slunk out of the theater and went in search of strong spirits. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful