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The Man Who Wasn't There Reviews

2001

70
from 17,939 members

The Coen brothers' THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE is a brilliantly photographed black-and-white absurdist noir set in Santa Rosa, California, in 1949. Ed Crane (the outstanding Billy Bob Thornton) is a slow-moving, barely talking barber who doesn't seem to want much out of life. He has virtually no relationship with his wife, Doris (.. Read more

Starring	Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Michael Badalucco
Director	Joel Coen
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of The Man Who Wasn't There
View all critics' reviews (6)
- "...It's probable that most filmmakers love making movies, but few of them express this love with such voracious, crazy ardor....THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE moves with the stately grace of the Beethoven that decorates the soundtrack..."
- 10189
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
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Most helpful member's review of The Man Who Wasn't There
View all members' reviews (81)
- - 30
  - 1
  The Clever Coens Twist on Film Noir
  
  First off, the movie is worth a rental for the visuals alone. Cinematographer Roger Deakins out does himself here, using beautiful shades of grey to paint the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 298927
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - LoganV
  - Fife
  - 03 Feb 2004 at 12:01
Most recent members' reviews of The Man Who Wasn't There
View all members' reviews (81)
- - 0
  - 1
  Not as good as the rest
  
  I am a big fan of the coen brothers - big lebowski, fargo, raising arizona, oh brother where art thou so I eagerly looked forward to catching this one I missed ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1104050
- - Pedro1001
  - 2 reviews
  - 19 Mar 2012 at 19:16
- - 0
  - 0
  A real curio
  
  This film cant make up its mind whether its Raymond Chandler gone existential, or Film Noir suffering - at the end - the ultimate over-exposure. Its the sort of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1093846
- - ArthouseAlec
  - 18 reviews
  - 18 Feb 2012 at 10:33
- - 1
  - 0
  Unbeatable black comedy.
  
  A clever and highly imaginative story, created and directed by the wonderful Coen brothers. Full of unexpected twists and turns, it surprises, amuses and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1042460
- - Nitaray
  - 218 reviews
  - Farnham
  - 19 Sep 2011 at 19:27
- - 0
  - 0
  Very stylish.
  
  The Cohen brothers seldom disappoint (No Country for Old Men being an exception) and could never be accused of being predicatble.
  
  This is a very ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1021248
- - a customer
  - 24 Jul 2011 at 21:52
- - 1
  - 0
  Great watch
  
  The atmosphere of Film Noir, the acting, the attention to detail more obvious in black and white, the plot, I loved it all. Watched it a second time and still ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 959849
- - jaybird100
  - 1 review
  - London
  - 02 Feb 2011 at 11:36
- - 0
  - 0
  Great stuff!
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Just my type of film.
  
  Crisp black and white photography, taut script, fine sense of time and place and top-notch acting.
  
  Billy Bob ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 951582
- - Beechie
  - 11 reviews
  - Hornsea
  - 07 Jan 2011 at 16:43
- - 0
  - 0
  Not bad...
  
  Don't expect action packed thrills and spills, but it's nicely shot, with a good story line (if a little predictable). The B & W suits the whole era... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 898620
- - calnfa
  - 31 reviews
  - cheltenham
  - 14 Jun 2010 at 11:26
- - 0
  - 0
  Billy Bob Thornton just cuts the hair! Me, I just watch the films!
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  The Man Who Wasn't There is another good film by the Coen Brothers and another example of their fine collaborative work. Shot in black and white as an ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 884021
- - a customer
  - Orpington
  - 16 Apr 2010 at 16:42
- - 1
  - 0
  A great performance from Billy Bob Thornton
  
  'Butterfly effect' type thriller which is fab to watch due to the understated performance of Billy Bob and the stunning visuals.
  
  Report this review
- 880093
- - lindaw
  - 9 reviews
  - near Milton Keynes
  - 04 Apr 2010 at 16:40
- - 1
  - 0
  Subtitles
  
  I need subtitles. There were no subtitles even though this is a relatively new film. Very disappointing.
  
  Report this review
- 855810
- - a customer
  - Trowbridge
  - 31 Jan 2010 at 18:31
View all members' reviews (81)

- - 30
  - 1
  The Clever Coens Twist on Film Noir
  
  First off, the movie is worth a rental for the visuals alone. Cinematographer Roger Deakins out does himself here, using beautiful shades of grey to paint the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 298927
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - LoganV
  - Fife
  - 03 Feb 2004 at 12:01
- - 11
  - 2
  Don't bother to rent this
  
  I was deeply deeply disappointed by this film. It is beautifully shot (in black and white) well acted but what was the point of this film ? I hired it on the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 480225
- - majortom2001
  - 67 reviews
  - Worthing, UK
  - 27 Sep 2007 at 20:29
- - 8
  - 0
  Very well shot
  
  The Man Who Wasn?t There is a film about a hairdresser, who, in typical Coen Brothers style, gets himself in a bit of a fiddle, involving murder, double-... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 107235
- - a customer
  - Inglewood
  - 24 May 2005 at 21:00
- - 6
  - 0
  Coen brothers at their best
  
  The Coen brothers once again stick to their winning formula of less is more.
  
  Great cinematography / great sets / wonderfully atmospheric. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 300900
- - yogajoga
  - london
  - 08 Mar 2004 at 11:42
- - 6
  - 0
  Proper Noir, I tell thee
  
  James M. Cain once wrote that he thought that the appeal of his books lay in the reader realising that his characters could not act on their desires and survive... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 336018
- - JohnC24
  - Cheshire
  - 26 May 2005 at 21:52
- - 5
  - 0
  Noir that sheds light on isolation
  
  A very intense and bizarre thriller this. Thornton's narration is haunting and really takes you into the mind of an outsider.
  
  You really get a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 341767
- - AndyZ1
  - Croydon
  - 25 Jul 2005 at 10:55
- - 4
  - 0
  Great cast, great performances, but did grate!!
  
  A monchromic masterpiece of direction and central performances of a quite delightful standard. It just doesn't work as a completed piece. By all means rent ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 359008
- - MadMurph
  - Staffordshire
  - 27 Jan 2006 at 22:56
- - 4
  - 1
  Disappointing
  
  I never thought I would stick the word disappointing to a Coen Bros movie but that's what this is.
  
  The performances are great and the whole style... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 65312
- - a customer
  - Hampton Hill
  - 19 Jan 2005 at 09:13
- - 4
  - 2
  Beautiful.
  
  This is an utterly beautiful film, fantastic from beginning to end, perfect.
  
  Report this review
- 65048
- - Lewis McInnes
  - Aberdeen
  - 18 Jan 2005 at 11:27
- - 3
  - 1
  No, NO, NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!
  
  The first Coen brothers movie I saw was Fargo, then Millers Crossing, then Barton Fink. Since then it's been downhill all the way! This has it's moments... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 110250
- - Mike Upton
  - Stevenage , Herts
  - 03 Jun 2005 at 09:45

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Critics' reviews
- "...It's probable that most filmmakers love making movies, but few of them express this love with such voracious, crazy ardor....THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE moves with the stately grace of the Beethoven that decorates the soundtrack..."
- 10189
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Stylish, stylized, highly polished, and leisurely thriller in the tradition of film noir, in which the guilty are undone by their own failures of character; it is impeccably written, photographed and acted.
- 31568
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42
- "...A fully realized, cohesive, and -- the real surprise -- completely 'serious' homage to the Hollywood genre, perhaps the best neo-noir since THE TWO JAKES..."
- 10187
- - Film Comment
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...It's shot in clean, crisp black and white, it's elegant compositions masterfully framed and lit....The Coens are masters of the offbeat and bizarre..."
- 10190
- - Sight and Sound
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Set in post-war California and shot by Roger Deakins in ravishing, steely b/w, the Coens' predictably unpredictable... read more on Time Out
- 44817
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
- "...One of [the Coen brothers's] most haunting and rewarding works..."
- 10188
- - Movieline
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Man Who Wasn't There
  
  The Coen brothers' THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE is a brilliantly photographed black-and-white absurdist noir set in Santa Rosa, California, in 1949. Ed Crane (the outstanding Billy Bob Thornton) is a slow-moving, barely talking barber who doesn't seem to want much out of life. He has virtually no ...