JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonThe Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) - Trailer Included
April 10th 2007 02:33
The Man Who Wasn’t There
U.S DVD Cover-Available in Australia
Cinematography: Roger Deakins
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Jon Polito, Scarlet Johansson, Tony Shaloub, Richard Jenkins
“I was a ghost, nobody saw me, I was the Barber” - Ed
Harking back to a time of murky noirs full of mystery and intrigue, with a lovingly rendered black and white atmosphere. The moody film The Man Who Wasn’t There continues the Coen Brothers cinematic homage that begun with their earlier works Blood Simple and Miller’s Crossing.
Set in small town USA in the 1950’s Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton) is the laconic barber who smokes too much and doesn’t talk enough. Introverted, an observer rather than participant he is disconnected and distant from his life and his wife Doris (Frances McDormand).
“Me, I don't talk much... I just cut the hair” – Ed
Ed is a good man, hardworking with no illusions about the hand he has been dealt and no real desires for happiness, money or fame, like the film he is a melancholy enigma. As circumstances morph the story becomes a fatalistic examination of conscience, guilt and empty human relationships.
“The more you look, the less you really know.” – Reidenschneider
Starting with a haircut and a revolutionary new chemical process named Dry Cleaning, this tale contorts into blackmail, betrayal and murder, culminating in conspiracy theories and deathrow confessions.
“Time slows down right before an accident, and I had time to think about things. I thought about what an undertaker had told me once - that your hair keeps growing, for a while anyway, after you die, and then it stops. I thought, "What keeps it growing? Is it like a plant in soil? What goes out of the soil? The soul? And when does the hair realize that it's gone?" - Ed
Look closer, now do you recognize me?
John Doe Says:
Hypnotic and mesmerising, The filmmaking duo of Joel and Ethan Coen (Big Lebowski, Hudsucker Proxy, Barton Fink) inject a warped humour into their most appealing works and use surrealist camera angles to manipulate and dazzle, The Man Who Wasn’t There is a perfect example of their quirky stylings.
Drawing on films like Double Indemnity, the Postman Always Rings Twice and the Ashphalt Jungle the pair of writer/Directors understand the conventions of the genre well enough to know when to ignore and when to embrace them.
Each new scene holds fresh surprises, restrained and never revealing more than it has to the film toys with the audience, we are silly putty to the lens. The exceptional B&W cinematography by Coen brothers regular Roger Deakins rightfully garnered attention with its meticulous use of light, shadow and composition.
The screenplay is precise, deceiving with its seemingly gentle, some might say slow pacing. It cleverly gets more complex with every page, slyly communicating volumes of information in a way that you don’t even realize until the conclusion of the final credits.
Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa, Sling Blade, U-Turn, Dead Man, One False Move) almost out Bogey’s, Bogey with controlled use of his character filled face. Subtle and completely calm on the surface, most of Ed’s story and dialogue come from the actor’s sleepy narration. Looking like a man from the time with a lit cigarette pursed between his lips in nearly every shot, you forget your watching Billy and believe this could be a silver screen icon from the golden age of celluloid.
Frances McDormand (Wonderboys, Almost Famous, Blood Simple, Lone Star, Short Cuts) is married to one of the Directors but that doesn’t mean she is not a shining jewel in many of their best films. Here as Doris she brings a sense of unspoken strength and vulnerability in equal measures that makes her every breath worth attention and later dissection.
Tony Soprano himself James Gandolfini (True Romance, Perdita Durango, Get Shorty) plays against type as a kept man with a failing department store business. Though his physical presence is undeniable and his loutish traits still surface there is a weakness to the role that he embraces making for an interesting turn.
A pre-Monk Tony Shaloub (Galaxy Quest, The Impostors, Gattaca) here plays Freddy Riedenschneider, an amoral, high priced lawyer out for anything he can get. Hilarious at times his line are delivered with high energy and attitude.
Scarlet Johansson (Ghost World, The Prestige, Match point, Lost In Translation) is a little better than her usual wooden self bringing an innocence and softness to her small but pivotal part.
For John Doe this is a film that has stood up to numerous screenings in many different states of mind and always provides something new to enjoy. Certainly one of his favourite Coen Brothers films, the beautiful black and white images look best after midnight and Billy Bob’s performance demands constant reevaluation.
The DVD:
Transfer: 1:85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras: Commentary by Joel and Etan Coen plus Billy Bob Thornton, Interview with Cinematographer Roger Deakins, Deleted scenes and making of Featurette.
Watch the entrancing trailer below
Billy Bob Interview about the role of Ed.
| 74 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
The Coen brothers know how to pace their movies... I love the tempo in this and Miller's Crossing.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Scarlett is surprising, her less is more presence works in this type of film....and Ghostworld
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
KylieW,
Im a huge Billy Bob fan too...his performance in Sling Blade is astounding and Bad Santa is a comedy fave in this house.
Frances mcDormand is also greta in teh right role, I love her in Wonderboys and her turn in teh Coen's Blood Simple is fantastic....Im not big on Fargo though.
Always glad to inspire fresh thought on great films Tracy, your welcome.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I love the rolling hubcap sequence in this movie ...
I've kinda lost interest in the Coen brothers over the years, but Blood Simple was the movie that made me want to direct.
Nice review though (as usual).
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The Coens have lost the plot for me too....Ladykillers, Intolerable Cruelty just didnt do it for me....
My top 5 Coens
Millers Crossing
Big Lebowski
Blood Simple
Barton Fink
Man Who Wasn't The
I also enjoy Raising Arizona, O Brother and Hudsucker Proxy...
Confession time, I dont rank Fargo at all. Annoying film that just didnt gel for me because of a lack of follow through. There were moments I enjoyed (Buscemi, Macy, Skarsgaard) but over all it was their flatest film up to that time....worth watching for the wood chipper scene though.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD