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Actor Michael Stuhlbarg lands lead in Coen brothers’ film “A Serious Man”
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Michael Stuhlbarg as Larry Gopnik in "A Serious Man".
Michael Stuhlbarg’s stage performance in The Pillowman earned him a Tony nomination in 2005. Other theatre productions he’s appeared in are Cabaret and The Invention of Love. However, it was his role in David Mamet’s adaptation The Voysey Inheritance that led to his winning an Obie Award. It was also the first time filmmaker Joel Coen saw the talented actor perform. Stuhlbarg said Coen’s wife actress Frances McDormand, who also appeared in Mamet’s play, invited her husband and introduced the two.
“I met Francis at a children’s theatre in New York called the 52nd Street Project, where we both volunteered. We remained friends. Then we were cast together,” he said at recent screening of A Serious Man in Los Angeles.
Stuhlbarg stars as the hero in the comedic tragedy written, produced and directed by Academy Award-winners Joel and Ethan Coen. His character Larry Gopnik is a Midwestern physic’s professor, who is on a search for clarity in his life after his wife Judith, played by Sari Lennick informs her husband that she’s leaving. It’s Stuhlbarg’s first on screen role.
“It was a dream,” he shared. His dream to appear on the big screen became a reality after several auditions for the Coens. “I first read for the Yiddish parable. I went to a tutor to prepare for the part.” At the audition, he said the brothers laughed a lot. “They ended up going with someone who spoke the language fluently.” Six months later, Stuhlbarg said he received a call to read for both Larry and Uncle Arthur. “I worked on both parts and read for them again and they laughed.” A few more months went by and then he got a call. “Joel said 'we are going to put you out of your misery. You’re Larry',” said Stuhlbarg, who admitted the first audition was intimidating until Joel and Ethan started laughing.
Stuhlbarg said the film is a healthy dose of fiction and very personal to the Coen brothers. The film is loosely based on the their father, who was an Economics’ professor at the University of Minnesota, and friends’ they knew.
While Stuhlbarg attempts to play serious in A Serious Man, he admits there was plenty of laughter on the set. All the more reason, he said he tried to remain focused, so he wouldn’t stop or slow down production. He said he enjoyed working with fellow actors Richard Kind (Uncle Arthur) and Adam Arkin (Divorce attorney). “I laughed a lot with Adam in the scene in his office. Joel had to stop production for thirty minutes, while we laughed,” he said. “Richard Kind made me giddy.”
The actor said he was pleasantly surprised that the filmmakers were hands off with their actors, which allowed him to freely explore his character. “The brothers love it when the actors ask questions. So, I wrote them 3 ½ pages to ask about my character’s back-story. They couldn’t answer," said Stuhlbarg, who ended up creating his own a back-story.”
Some moviegoers say it's possible Stuhlbarg could be nominated for an Oscar for his debut film performance. In hearing that, he humbly replied, “I’m keeping my feet on the ground, talking to people. I’d be happy to have a job. I’m grateful for the opportunity.” Stuhlbarg can now be seen in Martin Scorsese’s HBO show Boardwalk Empire.
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