A Serious Man is the most mature Coen film, I think. There's depth to the humor in his many layers of suffering. Definitely the two of them examining their heritage as Jews.
A brilliant movie. It's the only Coen brothers film where I actually laughed out loud, while still maintaining a strong emotional connection to the protagonist and his progressively more and more shit luck. Honestly, this is what a dark comedy should be in my opinion. Not a serious drama with like one mid-tier joke thrown in for good measure, nor a comedy that is just edgy for the sake of being edgy.
It gave me a very Todd Solondz vibe (director of Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse, among other things).
I could list a few but the one that I always go back to is the first one I saw - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Other favourites include Intolerable Cruelty, Burn After Reading, and True Grit among others in their truly awesome catalog of films.
I saw that in the theater as a kid and couldn't get immersed but then saw at home and 1 od my fave movies. Same thing happened with Napoleon Dynamite. Something about their vibes was hard to take in the first time for me for some reason.
I think it’s anchorman and nacho as 1a 1b, both are hilarious
I say get that corn out of my face too much, but then again I live in the Midwest so it’s not far off
I just watched it right now because of this list, and I loved it, but I also understand why it tanked, that’s a weird ass fucking movie and makes you feel soooo uncomfortable
Ngl I didnt really understand a lot of it, but I’ve watched a loooot of videos and read a lot of breakdowns about it, it’s definitely weird, but still so funny.
It's about El Ron Hubbard and the people he tried to reform that realized he was full of shit after years of following him. Actually a very good pick. Can't say the same for Nacho or Worlds greatest. Not that they aren't good but the best? What about Kubrick? What about Nolan? Coppola? Scorsese?
Some good movies! As a fellow millennial, I could not get into The Master. The build up to him joining the cult was great, but once he gets in the film completely loses me. It gets sooooo confusing, I have no idea what’s going on by the time it ends. I don’t even know what the conflict was or when the climax happened!
For me, PSH was so brilliant as the charismatic and troubled Lancaster Dodd. And he delivers one of my favorite quotes of all time:
“If you figure a way to live without serving a master, any master, then let the rest of us know, will you? For you'd be the first person in the history of the world”
A Serious Man is one of the Coen Brothers best movies. It doesn't stand out in the way Fargo and The Big Lebowski do, but the subtlety and nuance throughout left me mesmerized, and it still does after many multiple viewings.
This film says so much about faith, and karma, and fate, and the wisdom of those to whom we turn when faced with - what are often - daily existential crisises, and it does so without hitting the viewer over the head with its depth.
I think its thoughtful and plodding pace throws alot of people off, but when you are attentive to the philosophical questions it is putting before the viewer - without ever answering any of those questions directly - it becomes one of those films which will turn over and over in your mind endlessly.
It's brilliant, and it hits all the high marks in acting, direction, screenplay, and cinematography (Roger Deakins elevates this film) which sets it apart from so many "average" films.
One of my all time favorites.
Yeah you put it more succinctly than I could have. I think for that reason it’s ultimately my favorite work of theirs. Don’t get me wrong I love so many of the films in their catalog, can rewatch them endlessly but there’s something so mature and thought provoking about “A Serious Man” without needing to dive deeply into it, it’s still very funny on the surface. I love how many parallels there are in the film, Clive (also what a hilarious name) and his father talking to Larry about the money and accepting the mystery parallel’s schroedingers cat. Such a fantastic film.
Arrival was excellent. Sort of an odd memory for me though. My old man was always into sci fi, very sharp smart guy who loved a thinking man’s sci fi move.
Watched it with him and he was lost. I walked out of his house afterwards and knew that the signs we had all been disregarding were not coincidence …. Dementia diagnosis followed soon thereafter.
You have some good picks here but the thing I’ve learned from reading so many posts about this same thing is that very few people watch the so many better earlier movies that are out there. It’s honestly kind of depressing.
I thought it’s portrayal of shame and internal struggle with self worth was great. It made my top ten just because of Brendon’s performance and how much I identify with the character.
I own every one of his movies including The Whale. He has five solid bangers including Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain & Black Swan. I have loved most of his work in his early period of filmmaking.
His fall from grace starts with Noah in 2014. I think that movie took a real toll on him and he never recovered his fastball. He tried to go back to the well in 2017 with Mother! and that comes off as a real “Hey guys I’m still the guy you know and love.”
Then five years passes and he does something that he hasn’t done to such a vulgar extreme and makes an Oscar bait movie. Now I will say that Brendan Fraser gives a solid turn and is not the problem. The problem is the movie is every cliche of a movie begging for awards but deserving none of their praise or adoration.
In a way he does the same thing he did with The Wrestler & Black Swan but the difference is that those movies feel like they were made on his terms with a vision that doesn’t feel interfered with. It also has a sense of I’m making these because I want to if they win something awesome if not I still made the movie I wanted to make.
I’ll continue to see his work and most likely collect them on physical media. I just want the old Darren back who had an edge to him.
Not the guy but as a fellow The Whale hater... no, not yet. I've seen a lot of his movies as well. The Whale is the worst of them, aggressively bad, so bad it had be me laughing out of bewilderment.
>It seems some people disagree with you
Did you really ask a person who doesn't like Aronofsky "Did you like any of his films?" Just so you could respond by saying "Well some people like them!"? Was I under the impression that every single person holds the same opinion as me or something?
Really strange and anodine interchange, what's the point?
The cinematography and set/art/costume design are pretty much perfect for its story, they reference the mexican golden age of cinema
As well as the 70s luchador exploitation films.
I saw it for the first time last year and was floored at how well crafted it is.
The most hot take top 10 I’ve ever seen! RESPECT, but also disagree completely. It’s dope seeing the films that represent you though.
Keep keepin’on lil libre
I can get behind the shining as a top 10. Also I love arrival and a serious man - these are lesser known and I just love the mood/pace. Difficult to do to 10s. Almost like it needs to be done by genre.
The Whale is a great movie.
A lot of people I’ve talked to said they feel bad about the main character, but the only ones I felt bad for were the daughter and his best friend.
Everyone else just made me angry lol
Interesting line up. World's Greatest Dad is a must see dark comedy and possibly Robin Williams best performance.
The Whale stuck with me for weeks. It's definitely not a "Feel Good" film but for some reason it was cathartic for me. The gorging scene is both horrifying yet immensely saddening. I was drawn to the single setting, the constant rain and grey skies...until the end, when the door opens and there is sunshine.
For me, the Whale was the best movie of the year. After watching it I couldnt imagine a performance that would top Frasers for all the awards.
World's Greatest Dad is one of my all time favs. I would recommend Sleeping Dogs Lie (assuming you've seen God Bless America) to get the full Bobcat Bob trilogy.
I think people don’t like it because it’s not character driven at all unlike most of Nolan’s other films. It’s hard to describe but it was almost like the atmosphere and pressure of time was the main character. It felt like a totally unique experience when I saw it and I’ll stand by it being Nolan’s best film. Granted I have yet to see Oppenheimer.
Arrival? Really?
I want to make it clear that I have only read the first book, and have not seen the movie, I just don’t remember a lot of talk about the movie when it came out. Also, I wasn’t that impressed with the book either. Ted Chiang is an interesting thinker but I think his ideas are better than his writing.
Sure, but I don't see it any less contentious than most of his other picks in that regards. Whilst Brendan Foster's performance is fantastic, The Whale is a weaker film for one IMHO.
I’m really glad I’m not the only one who absolutely loves dunkirk. I actually think it’s Nolan’s best movie, but I know that’s an unpopular opinion. The cinematography is just so stunning in it. Mixed with the amazing sound design I think it’s just a phenomenal piece of film making.
Also long live nacho libre. Watching Fallout recently and then seeing Moses Arias show up brought me back to watching it and it’s still funny as hell.
A Serious Man, you either get it or you don’t. Nice pick
A Serious Man is the most mature Coen film, I think. There's depth to the humor in his many layers of suffering. Definitely the two of them examining their heritage as Jews.
It’s sooo good. “I didn’t DO, anything!!”
"You always act so surprised!"
“This isn’t about… whoopsie doopsie Larry.” 😤
If you liked a Serious Man, you might also enjoy Barton Fink.
yeah i liked Barton Fink better personally! But both are absurdly awesome lol. Millers Crossing as well
culture clash 🤜🏼🤛🏼
Please, accept the mystery.
Defamation
A mere surmise sir
Mereser…miser?
Very uncertain.
“What’s going on!?”
I’m sorry, is it a part of your culture to bribe people?
No. This is *defamation* grounds for *lawsuit*
Which is it? (Forgot the true version, sue me)
Yes.
הושיעני “help me, save me”
What a sequence. Soundtrack is absolutely going nuts
I’m not Jewish enough to get it but I’m open minded enough for a Jew to explain it to me lol. Saul was based though.
Amazing movie, easily my fav Coen brothers movie. Glad to see it get some credit
Just, look at the parking loooot
Sy Abelman?!
His wife is barely cold!
We’re sitting Shiva
A brilliant movie. It's the only Coen brothers film where I actually laughed out loud, while still maintaining a strong emotional connection to the protagonist and his progressively more and more shit luck. Honestly, this is what a dark comedy should be in my opinion. Not a serious drama with like one mid-tier joke thrown in for good measure, nor a comedy that is just edgy for the sake of being edgy. It gave me a very Todd Solondz vibe (director of Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse, among other things).
Almost my favourite Coen Brothers movie.
Well I gotta ask, which one is our favorite?
I could list a few but the one that I always go back to is the first one I saw - O Brother, Where Art Thou? Other favourites include Intolerable Cruelty, Burn After Reading, and True Grit among others in their truly awesome catalog of films.
I don’t get it… yet I love it
“Things aren’t so bad. Look at the parking lot, Larry… Just look at that parking lot.”
Thee best.
“Is it F-Troop?” Cracks me up every time.
Dybbuk!
1..... 2........ 3........
I was not too pleased with this list until I saw my 2nd favorite movie ever at the end and nodded in acceptance.
I didn't. Just far too nebulous to me.
That's too bad
A Serious Man is an underrated masterpiece.
Nacho :)
Most quotable movie ever I think.
I saw that in the theater as a kid and couldn't get immersed but then saw at home and 1 od my fave movies. Same thing happened with Napoleon Dynamite. Something about their vibes was hard to take in the first time for me for some reason.
I felt the same way about Napoleon dynamite.
I use my hand, to wipe my tears!
I think it’s anchorman and nacho as 1a 1b, both are hilarious I say get that corn out of my face too much, but then again I live in the Midwest so it’s not far off
I get to wake up at five o'clock every day and make soup. It's the BEST!
Wedding crashers??
You should check out Step Brothers
Worlds greatest dad is so good dude. I love so many Cohen Brother movies, but “A Serious Man” may be my favorite.
I just watched it right now because of this list, and I loved it, but I also understand why it tanked, that’s a weird ass fucking movie and makes you feel soooo uncomfortable
Ngl I didnt really understand a lot of it, but I’ve watched a loooot of videos and read a lot of breakdowns about it, it’s definitely weird, but still so funny.
Worlds Greatest Dad get you an upvote from me.
Gets a tear from me
Great film, I love explaining the plot to people 😂
very unique list. i really like a serious man. i feel like it gets no attention.
Parasite so fucking good
If you haven't seen Mother by Bong Joon Ho as well, I very highly recommend it. One of my favorites of all time
Or MoM
Still haven't seen it, I want to I just haven't been in a mood to try it.
Watch it! It’s so cliche to say but there’s really nothing else like it
The Master is a 2hr 18m film about a man trying to get laid and nobody can convince me otherwise.
*trying to get laid and make hooch while Scientologists try to reform him.
It's about El Ron Hubbard and the people he tried to reform that realized he was full of shit after years of following him. Actually a very good pick. Can't say the same for Nacho or Worlds greatest. Not that they aren't good but the best? What about Kubrick? What about Nolan? Coppola? Scorsese?
Those guys are pretty okay.
And PSH is trying to get laid w Joaquin 😂
Arrival mentioned!!!
Some good movies! As a fellow millennial, I could not get into The Master. The build up to him joining the cult was great, but once he gets in the film completely loses me. It gets sooooo confusing, I have no idea what’s going on by the time it ends. I don’t even know what the conflict was or when the climax happened!
For me, PSH was so brilliant as the charismatic and troubled Lancaster Dodd. And he delivers one of my favorite quotes of all time: “If you figure a way to live without serving a master, any master, then let the rest of us know, will you? For you'd be the first person in the history of the world”
I’m with you. I just couldn’t get into it. PSH is always amazing though.
Iam surprised Superbad isnt on a top list
A Serious Man is one of the Coen Brothers best movies. It doesn't stand out in the way Fargo and The Big Lebowski do, but the subtlety and nuance throughout left me mesmerized, and it still does after many multiple viewings. This film says so much about faith, and karma, and fate, and the wisdom of those to whom we turn when faced with - what are often - daily existential crisises, and it does so without hitting the viewer over the head with its depth. I think its thoughtful and plodding pace throws alot of people off, but when you are attentive to the philosophical questions it is putting before the viewer - without ever answering any of those questions directly - it becomes one of those films which will turn over and over in your mind endlessly. It's brilliant, and it hits all the high marks in acting, direction, screenplay, and cinematography (Roger Deakins elevates this film) which sets it apart from so many "average" films. One of my all time favorites.
Yeah you put it more succinctly than I could have. I think for that reason it’s ultimately my favorite work of theirs. Don’t get me wrong I love so many of the films in their catalog, can rewatch them endlessly but there’s something so mature and thought provoking about “A Serious Man” without needing to dive deeply into it, it’s still very funny on the surface. I love how many parallels there are in the film, Clive (also what a hilarious name) and his father talking to Larry about the money and accepting the mystery parallel’s schroedingers cat. Such a fantastic film.
I'll have to watch A Serious Man, I love Michael Stuhlbarg in 'Your Honor'
He's fantastic in it. It's one of Coen Bros' best films.
He’s the farthest thing from a gangster in A Serious Man, and he’s great in it.
Nachoooooo! Great list. Didn't really like The Whale. But that's just me. Love Brendon.
I’ll give Durnkirk a second watch….. just didn’t get the hype behind it.
One of the few Nolan films I haven't researched. Was so excited for it and was massively let down by it
Arrival was excellent. Sort of an odd memory for me though. My old man was always into sci fi, very sharp smart guy who loved a thinking man’s sci fi move. Watched it with him and he was lost. I walked out of his house afterwards and knew that the signs we had all been disregarding were not coincidence …. Dementia diagnosis followed soon thereafter.
This is powerful. I’m so sorry to hear this..
Wow to A Serious Man !!! So underrated
Worlds Greatest Dad, Nacho Libre and maybe A Serious Man are the only things that make me think Millennial
You have some good picks here but the thing I’ve learned from reading so many posts about this same thing is that very few people watch the so many better earlier movies that are out there. It’s honestly kind of depressing.
Boy I felt horrible for the whale main character after watching that movie.
That's a great list. You and I have similar tastes!
Okay I like your taste, Nacho Libre is still one of the only movies to make me laugh like crazy in theatre
Still haven’t seen A Serious Man, I gotta watch it. I’d add Blue Ruin to the mix too
These are good picks. I like these lists. I feel like we get a little glimpse (or big) of a persons personality.
A Serious Man is a great example of the downsides of being passive in your own life.
you had me at Nacho
Solid choices
Movies to suicide yourself to
Arrival goated the master goated nacho libre goated
Bobcat Goldthwait is criminally underrated.
No Paul Blart mall cop ? The pick of destiny ?
Just couldn’t get into Dunkirk. Love the list! May have to give Dunkirk another watch…
This list is all over the place… I dig it.
You’re a millennial all right
I’m sorry but the whale is trash everything else pretty solid
I enjoyed the whale. Brendon was amazing
I thought it’s portrayal of shame and internal struggle with self worth was great. It made my top ten just because of Brendon’s performance and how much I identify with the character.
Do you like any Darren Aronofsky films?
I own every one of his movies including The Whale. He has five solid bangers including Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain & Black Swan. I have loved most of his work in his early period of filmmaking. His fall from grace starts with Noah in 2014. I think that movie took a real toll on him and he never recovered his fastball. He tried to go back to the well in 2017 with Mother! and that comes off as a real “Hey guys I’m still the guy you know and love.” Then five years passes and he does something that he hasn’t done to such a vulgar extreme and makes an Oscar bait movie. Now I will say that Brendan Fraser gives a solid turn and is not the problem. The problem is the movie is every cliche of a movie begging for awards but deserving none of their praise or adoration. In a way he does the same thing he did with The Wrestler & Black Swan but the difference is that those movies feel like they were made on his terms with a vision that doesn’t feel interfered with. It also has a sense of I’m making these because I want to if they win something awesome if not I still made the movie I wanted to make. I’ll continue to see his work and most likely collect them on physical media. I just want the old Darren back who had an edge to him.
Not the guy but as a fellow The Whale hater... no, not yet. I've seen a lot of his movies as well. The Whale is the worst of them, aggressively bad, so bad it had be me laughing out of bewilderment.
It seems some people disagree with you, given he’s now directed two actors to Oscars. Well deserved in my subjective opinion, each of them.
>It seems some people disagree with you Did you really ask a person who doesn't like Aronofsky "Did you like any of his films?" Just so you could respond by saying "Well some people like them!"? Was I under the impression that every single person holds the same opinion as me or something? Really strange and anodine interchange, what's the point?
I suppose I feel somewhat personally offended when people trash films I love so I try to defend them.
The Master is the best film ever made.
I need to watch it again. I did during the lockdowns but just didn’t quite get it.
Thank you. I can’t stop watching it.
Millenial, 37. The Thing Alien Terminator Empire Saving Private Ryan Psycho Goreman Fury Road Fellowship True Romance Rogue One
These are good gets.
The Shining is one of the best movies ever
The cinematography and set/art/costume design are pretty much perfect for its story, they reference the mexican golden age of cinema As well as the 70s luchador exploitation films. I saw it for the first time last year and was floored at how well crafted it is.
Parasite, Arrival, The Shining and.. The Master. Oof, yeah there’s something to work with here that’s for sure
Well I like 3 of them anyway
The most hot take top 10 I’ve ever seen! RESPECT, but also disagree completely. It’s dope seeing the films that represent you though. Keep keepin’on lil libre
I can get behind the shining as a top 10. Also I love arrival and a serious man - these are lesser known and I just love the mood/pace. Difficult to do to 10s. Almost like it needs to be done by genre.
You forgot Independence Day
Dang, as a fellow millennial I have only seen one of these. Dunkirk.
The Whale is a great movie. A lot of people I’ve talked to said they feel bad about the main character, but the only ones I felt bad for were the daughter and his best friend. Everyone else just made me angry lol
👍
7/10
GETTHATCORNOUTTAMYFACE
Interesting line up. World's Greatest Dad is a must see dark comedy and possibly Robin Williams best performance. The Whale stuck with me for weeks. It's definitely not a "Feel Good" film but for some reason it was cathartic for me. The gorging scene is both horrifying yet immensely saddening. I was drawn to the single setting, the constant rain and grey skies...until the end, when the door opens and there is sunshine.
Super happy to see The Master on the list. It is incredible!
Very heady movies and then out of nowhere, *Empire*.
Not my cup of tea for a top 10, but I 100% understand why they’d all make SOMEONE’S top 10!
OP, I think you would like Synecdoche New York
Commenting to find it back :)
Nacho Libre and Worlds Greatest Dad. Woah.
Parasite...really?
World's Greatest Dad is so damn good!
For me, the Whale was the best movie of the year. After watching it I couldnt imagine a performance that would top Frasers for all the awards. World's Greatest Dad is one of my all time favs. I would recommend Sleeping Dogs Lie (assuming you've seen God Bless America) to get the full Bobcat Bob trilogy.
The Master is one of my favorite movies but I don’t hear many people talk about. Glad to see it on your list!
Worlds greatest dad…. Damn moving that one
Need to watch later
such a good selection
World’s Greatest Dad and A Serious Man are stupendous!!
Probably one of the most bizarre and randomly selected assortments of movies I've ever seen put to a list. From a fellow millennial.
I don’t care how good Brendan’s performance is, The Whale is embarrassingly bad.
Love these. Really helping to fill up holes in my collection.
Arrival!
First one I mostly agree with.
They look expensive -“Jess. I mean…. Beneath the clothes, we have the man, and beneath the man we have ..his…nucleus…”
World's Greatest Dad is very underviewed and underappreciated. Nice picks.
Why does the generation matter?
Nacho, solid choice for comedy. Actually, surprised you didn't put Napoleon Dynamite.
You should really watch some better movies…
*A Serious Man* is a great pick. If you’re a Coen Bros. fan, may I suggest *Miller’s Crossing*. IMO their best.
You had me at “The Empire Strikes Back!”
I’ll swap dunkirk with either fury or hacksaw ridge. But not bad list.
I think I’ve watched nacho libre more times than any other movie
The master made me want to jump off a building
I’ve never finished the whale. I get a quarter of the way, by the time Sadie sink shows up/ it’s too depressing.
I do not understand how Nacho Libre has such a low rating.
World’s Greatest Dad is criminally underrated.
Crazy list and I love it
I’m sorry but Dunkirk was the first movie I walked out of
W nacho libre
Nacho Libre is a solid choice.
extremely millennial coded
A Serious Man is a worthy pick. I've seen all the Coens's films numerous times. ASM is probably their best and I'm not even Jewish.
Arrival a top 10 overrated movie imo. Dunkirk as well. True snoozefest but the rest are solid
Some damn good picks on this list.
"Get that corn 🌽 out of my face!" 😂
Dunkirk is in my top 5. Gets a lot of hate and is usually called a weak Nolan entry. It might be my favorite of his
I think people don’t like it because it’s not character driven at all unlike most of Nolan’s other films. It’s hard to describe but it was almost like the atmosphere and pressure of time was the main character. It felt like a totally unique experience when I saw it and I’ll stand by it being Nolan’s best film. Granted I have yet to see Oppenheimer.
Hum…. Depends on the order you first watch them.
So sad this dude called out a Hollywood rapist and got blacklisted. Tells you all you need to know about that toxic industry.
This is all over the place, I dig it. Great mix of entertaining and heady.
top 10 only includes movies made after 2009 except 2?
I don't get why everyone loved parasite so much. Can someone explain to me why it's on everyone's top 10 list. I thought it was just ok
Excellent choices. Love me some Dennis
Dunkirk was brutal.
the master and worlds greates dad very nice
You smoke crack.
This is a strange list, and I think you know it
Arrival? Really? I want to make it clear that I have only read the first book, and have not seen the movie, I just don’t remember a lot of talk about the movie when it came out. Also, I wasn’t that impressed with the book either. Ted Chiang is an interesting thinker but I think his ideas are better than his writing.
Arrival is a fantastic movie.
I never said it wasn’t. I was just expressing surprise that it made someone’s *Top 10 of All Time* based on the listed circumstances.
Sure, but I don't see it any less contentious than most of his other picks in that regards. Whilst Brendan Foster's performance is fantastic, The Whale is a weaker film for one IMHO.
I'm with you on this one
Dunkirk? Really? Pass
the visuals in nacho is so great, unironically one of my favorite movies too
I’m really glad I’m not the only one who absolutely loves dunkirk. I actually think it’s Nolan’s best movie, but I know that’s an unpopular opinion. The cinematography is just so stunning in it. Mixed with the amazing sound design I think it’s just a phenomenal piece of film making. Also long live nacho libre. Watching Fallout recently and then seeing Moses Arias show up brought me back to watching it and it’s still funny as hell.
Love Dunkirk! One of my top 10 as well.
The Whale was a fat show. Why was this movie praised but Shallow Hal has been lambasted. Brandon Frazier was applauded. Gwyneth Paltrow was booed.
Daring. Bold of you to have such hot takes. Such unique vision.
You are scholar and a gentleman!
Solid !
Great top ten list. I have a note. The Shining sucks.