The Man Who Wasn't There

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The Man Who Wasn't There

R

Released Oct 31, 2001

1h 56m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

158 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A dark tale of infidelity and murder, crime and punishment. Set in a small northern California town of the late 40s, the film portrays Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a barber dissatisfied with his life. His wife Doris' (Frances McDormand) infidelity presents Ed with an opportunity for blackmail that he thinks will help him to change it. However, Ed's scheme unravels and lays bare even darker secrets...

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Critics Consensus

Stylish but emotionally distant, The Man Who Wasn't There is a clever tribute to the film noir genre.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Some mature themes--best for older teens.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Affectlessness is not a quality much prized in movie protagonists, but Billy Bob Thornton, that splendid actor, does it perfectly as Ed Crane.

Oct 13, 2009

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

The film holds the interest, to be sure, but more due to the sure sense of craft and precise effect that one expects from the Coens than from genuine involvement in the story.

Nov 7, 2007

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Like many films in the film noir genre, The Man Who Wasn't There would not work if it were released in color.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 22, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The Coens often exaggerate a genre to comic effect, and for The Man Who Wasn't There, the mechanics of film noir marry with the Coens' unique brand of searching, and together realize their most mysterious, atmospheric motion picture.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 2, 2022

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Leave it to Joel and Ethan Coen to not only pay expert homage to the film noir genre, but darn near perfect it.

Rated: 4/4

May 22, 2021

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Renzo G

Simplemente los hermanos Coen

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

Paul C

This is another Coen Bros. film I rewatched recently, I upgraded to Blu-Ray. It’s still a solid flick, probably a bit too long, but worthwhile. The film is extremely well crafted and perfect performances by the cast.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/14/24

Full Review

Ross v

Beautifully designed and shot. Slow-paced, slow burn. Fantastic performances and an understated overall ambiance for what is, essentially, a narrative look into the misbehavior, misdemeanors, and crimes, of everyday people. Jon Politio's small role is great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

Enjoyed it. The voiceover and black/white palate all reminded me of Sun City. Thornton carries the film with his vacant, distant musings. Bought in DVD for £1.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/06/23

Full Review

Clay W

Film noir lives! Very good film, great performance by Billy Bob Thornton.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

dave s

Ed (Billy Bob Thornton) is a man living an unfulfilled life. His job as a barber is nothing more than a means to an end. His unloving wife Doris (Frances McDormand) is having an affair. He lives in a world of facile relationships in which he wants no part. The Man Who Wasn't There is one of the Coen brothers most unappreciated works, a neo-noir film about alienation, infidelity, and, ultimately, murder. Filled with effective lighting, stellar cinematography by Roger Deakins, solid performances from an excellent cast (including James Gandolfini as Doris' lover), and a story filled with twists and turns, it is up there with the best that the Coens have to offer. Granted, the final twenty minutes or so may feel a bit tacked on, but The Man Who Wasn't There is definitely worth the watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Joel Coen

Director

Billy Bob Thornton

Ed

Frances McDormand

Doris

Michael Badalucco

Frank

James Gandolfini

Big Dave

Katherine Borowitz

Ann Nirdlinger

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The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - Freddy Reidenschneider

2:11

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - The Murder

3:18

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - Reasonable Doubt

2:54

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - It Stinks

3:41

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - An Enthusiast

2:41

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - A Diamond in the Rough

3:00

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - I Just Cut the Hair

2:05

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - The Ghost

2:26

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - A Blackmail Note

3:00

The Man Who Wasn't There: Official Clip - The End

2:05

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Synopsis

A dark tale of infidelity and murder, crime and punishment. Set in a small northern California town of the late 40s, the film portrays Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a barber dissatisfied with his life. His wife Doris' (Frances McDormand) infidelity presents Ed with an opportunity for blackmail that he thinks will help him to change it. However, Ed's scheme unravels and lays bare even darker secrets...

Director: Joel Coen
Producer: Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: R (Scene of Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 31, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 14, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.5M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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