Though the tone of his books is wonderfully mischievous, their essential seriousness is beyond question.

These events unfold in a wry, muted style, but the film makes no secret of its essential seriousness.

A speechy screenplay could have reduced this to issue-oriented melodrama, but the essential seriousness of Tim Robbins's direction came through.

José Coronadó's lushly pretty, authentic-looking costumes suggested the essential seriousness of this enterprise.

Ms. Goldberg is able to accommodate all manner of jokey outbursts without obscuring the essential seriousness of her performance.

The more Ms. Mutter trades on a glamorous image, it seems, the more surely she is recognized for her essential seriousness as an artist and a person.

Ryan's wit, quirkiness, and slyness are often noted by reviewers of her poetry, but Jack Foley emphasizes her essential seriousness.

But it is equally true that he brought a folk musician's essential seriousness to rock 'n' roll.

Yet an essential seriousness remains clear.

The movie's essential seriousness, its brave ambition and the dedication of its cast have grown more impressive with time.