Coen Brothers: Ranking Their Films From Worst To Best

8. A Serious Man (2009)

The Coens put out four films in four years from 2007-2010, one of the most productive periods for them so far. The third of those four was a little film called A Serious Man; 'little' in that the film starred no big-name actors (unless Richard Kind is big-name), was released in a limited capacity in the United States, and has received a relatively subdued response from critics and audiences compared to the rest of the films in the Coen oeuvre. But make no mistake we're getting into dangerous territory on this list in that any of these films could easily top your Best Of Coen Brothers list, and A Serious Man is a delicious marvel of simple and unadorned filmmaking. Not many directors have so many films that could truly be considered their best work, a testament to the consistent greatness and freshness of Joel and Ethan. A modern take on the Book of Job, A Serious Man stars Michael Stuhlbarg as Larry Gopnik. Larry's life is plodding along until one day his wife leaves him, his kids ignore him, his job is threatened, his brother and his neighbours are nuts, and the rabbis he turns to for help and wisdom provide neither. But "Things aren't so bad. Just look at that parking lot."