The Man Who Wasn't There
2001 · Movie · R · 116 min · ★ 7.5 · 77% critics
In the summer of 1949, a quiet small-town barber feels stuck in a life that no longer satisfies him. When he suspects betrayal at home and sees a risky chance to reinvent himself, a desperate scheme pulls him into a shadowy chain of crime, suspicion, and consequences.
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Details
- Years
- 2001
- Release date
- 2001-10-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Critic score
- 77/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (1,755 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a dark, black-and-white noir with dry humor, moral fallout, and a slow-burn crime spiral, in the vein of Fargo or Blood Simple; Not for you if you need fast pacing and straightforward plotting.
Pros: classic noir mood; strong performances; twisty crime story | Cons: slow pacing; dense narration; can feel convoluted
Themes
- small town
- california
- hairdresser
- con man
- insurance fraud
- black and white
- barber
- neo-noir
- 1940s
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 2002 · nominated
Cast & crew
Billy Bob Thornton
as Ed Crane
Frances McDormand
as Doris Crane
Michael Badalucco
as Frank
James Gandolfini
as Big Dave Brewster
Katherine Borowitz
as Ann Nirdlinger Brewster
Jon Polito
as Creighton Tolliver
Scarlett Johansson
as Birdy Abundas
Richard Jenkins
as Walter Abundas
Tony Shalhoub
as Freddy Riedenschneider
Christopher Kriesa
as Officer Persky
Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen