Is the story of Job originally from and/or about someone in our culture? No definitive answer there. The book seems to describe Job as a Gentile, but some Jews point out that the same language used to identify Job is applicable to Hebrews.
Basically the book is seen as telling us that some answers lie beyond our grasp. Jews often see the book as paralleling the experience of the Holocaust and the WHY? that still lingers.
The book is not known for directly promoting Tikkun Olam, or making the world better, but it seems to do so indirectly. After the drama is complete and Job gets to hear from Heaven, Job's situation turns around. Job is either helped and helps himself to move on after asking "why," and sometimes we need to stop, realize there may be no answer to our questions and move on ourselves, learning to accept life on its own terms.
As for the Cohen brother's film, it is suggested by many that it is to be paralleled with the book of Job, but the filmmakers said it was really a look into the fears and paranoia of what it is like to be Jewish: Is G-d talking to me? Is G-d not talking to me? Does it really matter if I do something bad? Will G-d punish me if do? Nah, he is not like that...is he? Do I have my answers? Is this tornado my answer? Or is this just coincidental?
True, like Job there is no answer, but that's a lot like all of Jewry. Jews are known for answering questions with a question, didn't you know that?