The Man Who Wasn't There
The Coen Brothers are back with a dark and twisted film noir unlike anything you've ever seen. Set in a small 1949 California town, this is the story of a seemingly simple barber, who turns to blackmail and revenge to escape his achingly dull life. But in the tradition of classic noir, nothing goes as planned and nothing is as it seems. And as the barber's plot unravels, the delicious surprises, stunning revelations and just plain strange occurrences will disturb and delight you long after the film has ended.
Member Reviews
Entertaining crime drama! - aj79
If the Coens were authors, this would be placed in the ‘minor work’ category. At times very interesting, but at others infuriating, The Man Who Wasn’t There can’t stand with the best of the Coens, but it’s still a worthwhile picture. Full of ideas and moments of charm, it’s a pretty good movie, but can’t quite live up to its own promise, though the ending is quite superb. Engaging, but not hugely affecting. The movie is in black-and-white to emphasize its film noir roots and period piece feel, but it ultimately turns out to be a character study of its chain-smoking protagonist, memorably portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton. Thornton's performance is outstanding, and I doubt if I'll ever forget the way he looks in the film's many close-ups.Great Movie - Amadeus
I really enjoyed watching this film. The acting was fantastic, the plot was rich with twists and turns. If you've enjoyed other films by the Coen Brothers, you're sure to like this one too. The film noir style is nice to see after having watched several cgi laden films over the past few months.
Billy Bob Thorton was perfect for this somewhat depressed character.
Highly recommended!!Coen brothers succeed again - shawn5
And the list of great Coen brothers films continues. Riveting neo-noir film concerning an extremely ordinary man ("I'm just the barber")... and the extraordinary consequences of some bad decisions and bad luck. Beautiful cinematography by the excellent Deakins, and awesome acting by all involved (especially Thornton and the hilarious Tony Shalhoub). Great film... but the UFO sections still leave me a little puzzled...
Member Reviews
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Entertaining crime drama! - aj79
If the Coens were authors, this would be placed in the ‘minor work’ category. At times very interesting, but at others infuriating, The Man Who Wasn’t There can’t stand with the best of the Coens, but it’s still a worthwhile picture. Full of ideas and moments ...Great Movie - Amadeus
I really enjoyed watching this film. The acting was fantastic, the plot was rich with twists and turns. If you've enjoyed other films by the Coen Brothers, you're sure to like this one too. The film noir style is nice to see after having watched several ...Coen brothers succeed again - shawn5
And the list of great Coen brothers films continues. Riveting neo-noir film concerning an extremely ordinary man ("I'm just the barber")... and the extraordinary consequences of some bad decisions and bad luck. Beautiful cinematography by the excellent Deakins, ...