THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 26^th October 2001

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 116 mins

Director: Joel Coen

Writers: Joel and Ethan Coen

Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand and James Gandofini 

I thought I would go away from the big Hollywood blockbusters for a moment and talk about the Coen Brothers. The Man Who Wasn’t There is what I’m reviewing today. This film came out in 2001. This is the Coen Brothers having a go at a Noir style of filming. I love the Coen Brothers they’re fantastic. This film stars Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand James Gandofini (RIP) and a young Scarlett Johansson. Billy Bob Thornton is playing the slightly odd quiet gentleman he usually plays except this time he’s in a little bit of a pickle. He is a barber and he black mails his wife’s lover for money to invest in dry cleaning but it doesn’t all plan out as well as he hoped. 

A little word of advice, don’t watch this before Christmas it will not cheer you up. It’s very depressing and a bit slow, but I don’t mind that in a film as long as the story goes places. And the story does, it is very engrossing and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. Along with this the character development is well done and you care for Billy Bob. You see him as a man bored with his life, his wife no longer loves him and he just wants to catch a big break in the dry cleaning business. 

The Man Who Wasn’t There is one of the most stylistic films I have ever seen. The fact that Billy Bob Thornton’s character is a chain smoker adds to the effect as the smoke wafts into the air mesmerising you. It sounds funny to say this after I’ve seen the film but it has a very dark sense of humour and will make you chuckle a little throughout the film. But no this isn’t a comedy. 

This is up there with the Coen Brothers best. I am going to give The Man Who Wasn’t There: 

8.5/10