There’s a pot-smoking Jewish teen in this story set in suburban Minneapolis in 1967 – a backstory that mirrors that of writer/directors Joel and Ethan Coen. But the bigger focus of their rattling tragicomedy is on the teen’s existentially stumped dad, Larry Gopnik (played by Michael Stuhlbarg in his first big-screen role). A Job-like figure on a run of biblically bad luck, Larry is asking life’s biggest questions. The film isn’t offering any easy answers back. Funny, confounding, and catnip for miserablists (it might be my favorite Coen Brothers film?), this is one you’re gonna want to chew over in the AFS lobby afterwards. Screens in 35mm. – Kimberley Jones
