As played by Oscar Isaac, he’s snidely funny, world-weary and deeply sad. Though his story is enigmatic, the film itself is brilliantly acted, gorgeously shot and altogether captivating.

Far more coherent than last year’s aimless “On the Road” and more sharply focused than 2010’s “Howl,” it centers on a youthful Ginsberg finding his nascent artistic voice.

If you like your family humor tart, sophisticated and just a bit bent, though, get ready to howl at this series about a brilliant little kid buckling under the crushing stigma of being designated a genius.

Bruce Dern gives the performance of his career as the headstrong Woody in the brilliant, wisely observed and wryly funny Nebraska. What stands out is the fullness of the character, with mannerisms and expressions that make him wholly dimensional.

The series is shockingly funny, even when it goes into dark/disturbing mode, but moments like these confirmed that there was more going on than a bawdy, violent, nihilistically hilarious riff on science-fiction clichés and scientific principles, built around a character who’s like the Doctor reimagined by Armando Iannucci.

Brilliantly captures the exhilaration that comes from facing death head-on. It’s also an ode to joyous rivalry.