Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco
A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss and lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong.
DVD Release Date: April 16, 2002
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Stats: 1,500 reviews
Flixster Reviews (1,500)
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September 3, 2009The Coen's most beautifully directed film, hands down. The smooth black and white finish is sublime. Thornton is fantastic, in what I believe to be his best role to date (Just beating his character in sling blade). The whole cast are on top form and for me, this has my favourite ...( read more)
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October 25, 2008When I saw The Man Who Wasn't There in the theater I was incredibly disappointed. Not enough of the Coens' trademarked weirdness and way too much wayward boredom. Since 2001 I've grown a whole new appreciation for film noir (which The Man Who Wasn't There pays homage to almost pe...( read more)
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August 12, 2008a little work of art. first of all brilliant acting from the whole cast even though it's not even needed when you've got a story as powerful as this one. second of all i was waiting ages hoping that one day i'd see a coen brothers film that lived up to the standards of fargo. thi...( read more)
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May 25, 2008Slow, odd and morose neo noir, with a unusually quiet, restrained but remarkable performance by Billy Bob Thornton. Roger Deakins' cinematography, although too flashy for my taste (in the context of the story) is a undeniably strong point.
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May 1, 2008I should start by saying that I normally hate black and white films, they really annoy me. I think it's because colours really show emotions and give films more character, I just find it more interesting. But in this case I survived watching this whole film, and came to realise t...( read more)
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November 7, 2009A tribute and homage to film noir and classic cinema. Billy Bob Thornton's narration makes this depressing, dark humor film something very extraordinary. The movie is idea-driven (on existentialism of a modern man) and not plot-driven which may explain its slow pacing. Music scor...( read more)
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October 13, 2009Et voila - homage to Film Noir Coen-style. Bold lighting gives the viewer a pallet of shadows and textures in a visual treat which draws them into a black and white world of complex yet understated characters through which complications within relationships are explored. In true ...( read more)
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October 5, 2009One of the Coens most underrated films. A perfect homage to the Film Noir. From the visuals, to the score, to the impeccable cast, this film is perfect. Completely understated and utterly hilarious. Billy Bob Thornton is frighteningly watchable. Seeing this film again, makes me r...( read more)
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September 18, 2009An absolutely terrific Billy Bob Thronton and an unparalelled direction and script by the Coen Bros., 40's film-noirish style, result in a contemporary crime masterpiece, full of suspense and unforgettable scenes.
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Critic Reviews
March 22, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
November 2, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Man Who Wasn't There is so assured and perceptive in its style, so loving, so intensely right, that if you can receive on that frequency, the film is like a voluptuous feast. full review
November 1, 2001
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
There are goofy flourishes here, the in-jokey, left-field rummies that are the Brothers Coen's stock-in-trade. But this is altogether a quieter, more philosophical sort of endeavor. full review
October 31, 2001
A.O. Scott, The New York Times
Full of delightful idiosyncrasies and surprising bits of acting. full review
October 29, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
For all its lapses, Man is steadily engrossing and devilishly funny, and, o brother, does it look sharp. full review
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