The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Synopsis of The Man Who Wasn't There

Set in a sleepy Northern California town in the 1940s, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen's The Man Who Wasn't There stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Crane, a humble barber who suspects his hard-hearted and hard-drinking wife Doris (Frances McDormand) of having an affair with her boss (James Gandolfini). When a jocular stranger (Jon Polito) breezes into town hinting at the fortune to be made investing in an outlandish-sounding new invention called dry cleaning, Ed hatches a blackmail scheme he hopes will make him rich and get him some revenge at the same time. His plan goes horribly awry when he accidentally commits a murder for which Doris ends up being blamed, landing her in the slammer and Ed at the mercy of blowhard big-city lawyer Freddy Riedenschneider (Tony Shalhoub). Filmed in black-and-white by three-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins, The Man Who Wasn't There was inspired by the seedy crime novels of James M. Cain, putting a distinctly Coen brothers' spin on the film noir tradition. Though spiked with their characteristic humor, its moody atmosphere hearkens back to the darker moments of Blood Simple and Fargo -- a marked departure from the high-spirited slapstick of O Brother Where Art Thou. ~ Tom Vick, Rovi

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:

116 mins

Director(s):

Joel Coen

Writer(s):

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Producer(s):

Ethan Coen

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

R(Profanity, Questionable for Children, Violence)

• 2001 - American Film Institute - Best Cinematography
• 2001 - American Society of Cinematographers - Best Cinematography
• 2001 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Cinematography
• 2001 - Cannes Film Festival - Best Director
• 2001 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Cinematography
• 2001 - National Board of Review - Best Actor

Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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