The Man Who Wasn't There

The Coen brothers are aging like wine and getting better and better with each film. Billy Bob here shows an unbearable lightness of non-existence and with his stony expression delivers a powerful performance. I love the poetics of the Coens, I love their sense for the absurd, and you’ll get that in this film to the fullest. A clear five-star affair. (12/22/2002)

Billy Bob Thornton's nihilistic voiceover is all the more familiar because it's basically unchanging from start to finish, no matter what's happening on screen. This noir crutch for The Man Who Wasn't There (a brilliantly apt title) is aesthetically essentially perfect, and represents Coen's captivating visual style at its best. In terms of the screenwriting, it's not all that revelatory (especially in the last act), but all the other ingredients are so compelling that it doesn't detract from the result. The seemingly uninvolved speech of the central character, who somehow oscillates between phlegmatic and apathetic, is simply brilliant. I think that every great filmmaker has such a semi-landed film in his filmography, one which lies more in the shadow of the biggest hits, but which is similarly captivating as the biggest hits. With the Coen brothers, this is that film. [90%] (11/29/2020)

This psychological drama in the style of 1950s noir couldn’t have been made better. It's true that the Coen brothers will probably never make anything completely "normal" again and their slightly monotonous narrative won't be to everyone's taste, but it all worked perfectly here. Hand in hand with great cinematography, a well-chosen black-and-white production design and last but not least the traditionally fabulous Billy Bob Thornton in the lead role, the tribute immediately becomes a little easier, especially when all that is in the hands of directors whose films have a completely different style than all the others. It may not be perfect, the story isn't exactly packed, and it certainly could have done with a lot less than 110 minutes, but it’s still worth watching for Thornton's haunting voice and final look alone – and not only once. (06/29/2012)

As a novice with only a tiny fraction of the Coen brothers' filmography passing through my hands – moreover, the least pivotal works – I sometimes felt like Alice in Wonderland while watching The Man Who Wasn't There. The script is ordinary at first glance, "dabbling" in all sorts of brackish waters, but as a whole it totally unique. The film is filled with plot twists, with each situation leading to a contrary outcome from the established logic. Director Joel Coen presents everything in a slow, retro style reminiscent of post-war America in the 1940s. He acts as a meticulous guide, pausing with the audience in each scene and offering a detailed analysis of the characters and their diverse personalities. Ed's description of meeting his wife - including the "pause" - is brilliant. Behind the camera, Roger Deakins works with his instrument just like his predecessors from the 1940s, and when combined with the subtle piano music, you'll regret not living in that era. Actually no, you won't regret it, because the austere description of Ed's life will disgust many a viewer. I know that Billy Bob Thornton is an excellent actor, but only here did I have to prove to myself that he is ultra-brilliant. With a perpetually lit cigarette, he walks, talks, and acts in such a stylish manner that you feel like inviting that guy for a drink, over which you both would vent about life. The Man Who Wasn't There is exactly the kind of film that turns zero expectations into gold. More of this! (06/28/2005)

A lineup of favorite Coen-esque actors in a straightforward and darkly comedic homage to noir. And although I greatly enjoyed Ed's darkly toned journey, the silent parts of the legal plot deliver unnoticed blows below the belt. However, everything else is excellent, from the brilliant Thornton to the adorable Scarlett, the superb atmosphere, and the beautiful piano soundtrack. (07/19/2006)