Pros: Great cast, Thornton is excellent Cons: A little too long and too dark
The Man Who Wasn't There is a black and white noir film from the Coen brothers. It is set in 1949 and stars Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johanson, and James Gandolfini. The story combines dark humor with sleazy ...
Pros: A visual masterpiece with great acting and writing Cons: None
I always laugh when a movie begins in a theatre and it becomes obvious that it was filmed in black and white. Invariably there are groans and moans of "Ugh, it's not in color."
My reaction is just the opposite. As a serious amateur...
Pros: The Coens Writing & Directing, Cast, Deakins Cinematography, Everything Else. Cons: A Few Minor Quirks that Doesn't Work.
One of the most celebrated duos in independent films, the Coen Brothers of Joel and Ethan helped shape the eccentricities and uniqueness of independent films through their movies. From 1985's Blood Simple to quirky comedies like 1987's ...
Pros: Billy Bob Thornton's Oscar-worthy performance as Everyman. Roger Deakin's cool black and white photography. Cons: THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, in its existential analysis of America, may be too cool.
Most Americans (men, anyway) -- let's paraphrase Henry David Thoreau -- live lives of quiet desperation. We go along to get along. We follow the path of least resistance. We get an education or take a job for the money.
Pros: Freddy Riedenschneider: White Johnny Cochran Cons: Existential Whining
Personal Rant:
All of you bitter scrunched nose, bent brow, saggy-frowned, sniveling, smirking, sneering post-modern pseudo-intellects with scholarly allusions bulging in your pants loved this movie. I know you did. I can hear you...
Pros: After "Bandits" it's good to see Thornton in a WELL WRITTEN movie Cons: The ending is is dark and gloomy...hey, that's not a con...it's meant to be!!
The Coen brothers are back with this film noir set in 1949 Santa Rosa Cal. I've been a huge admirer of their work ever since 1991's "Barton Fink" and of course their 1996 masterpiece "Fargo" (which is probably my favourite movie). What the Coen...
Pros: brilliant filmmaking, very interesting story structure Cons: a bit cold
The measured, perfect notes of a Beethoven sonata, played with skill yet lacking in passion, is not only the soundtrack of the recent homage to noir by the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan Coen) it’s one of the overarching themes of The Man Who Wasn’t...
Pros:McDormand and Thorton, Not very predictable, directing Cons: Sort of drags out toward the ending.
The wildly imaginative Joel and Ethan Coen have done it again. These brothers, who have written and directed nine films, including "Fargo," "O Brother, Where art Thou?" and "The Big Lebowski," have proven to have a unique sense of style. Their films are...
Pros: A good script, great ensemble acting, dark and subtle comedy. Cons: A slow-burner that requires a bit of patience, but ultimately satisfying.
This movie is by the Coen brothers, the duo that gave us the brilliant Fargo. And like that movie, The Man Who Wasn't There is a dark comedy of errors, done in a film noir style, in black and white, which intensifies the darkness of the story. ...
Pros: A provocative and unshrinking moral challenge. Cons: The ending is very pessimistic.
Masterful film stylists Joel & Ethan Coen's new film, The Man Who Wasn't There, contains adultery, blackmail, murder, "pansies" (not the flower), embezzelment, pedophilia, hangings, viscious beatings, and electric chair capital punishment.
...
Only the Coen brothers could intermingle existentialism, film noir, UFO’s, piano prodigies, fortunetellers and barbers into a compelling piece of cinematic art. The Man who Wasn’t There is a stylish, sometimes languishing, but never dull look at how...
Pros: Acting, directing, cinematography, etc., etc., etc. Cons: A final third that offers Coen Bros. weirdness, which may turn off some
There's a lot of talk about Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle here, which would seem out of place, quantum mechanics and cinema not being usual bedfellows. But the Coen Bros., odd boys that they are, fit thing together nicely. And Heisenberg's theory,...
Pros: Every breathtaking frame. Cons: Questionable use of voiceover, and the pace MIGHT throw some people off.
Two life-altering movies within the span of two months? Well, it is humanly possible to see yet another astounding piece of art following Richard Linklater's masterpiece, "Waking Life." The directors of this extraordinary film are the Coen...
Pros: Casting, direction, cinematography, story, performances, script, popcorn at the cinema. Cons: Coen's movies are not for everyone.
Since this is a Coens movie, you can only expect one outcome. That is for me to declare it as a triumph and encourage you to go see it. Well, yes I will. Once again brothers Joel and Ethan, who share co-writing credits but a single direction credit for...
Pros: beautiful images, strong performances, authenticity Cons: The only problem with this movie is that it eventually ended
It's 1994 and the Coen Brothers are filming the Hudsucker Proxy starring Tim Robbins and Paul Newman. They're shooting a scene in a barber shop and a poster on the wall catches their eye. It's a poster of all the different 1940's-style haircuts, and the...
Pros: Brilliantly crafted cinema in every regard. Cons: A surface emotional distance that could sour some viewers.
I love Coen Brothers films for a lot of reasons, and they’re all present (ironically) in The Man Who Wasn’t There. The title—while befitting the movie—is antithetical to its filmmakers. These guys are definitely all there. Their films, even in...
Pros: the actors are great, all technical aspects are fantastic, great direction. Cons: hard to see any, okay its a bit long.
In my mind, there are two filmmakers currently working who consistently make good/great, intelligent films in a variety of genres that are always of the highest quality. One of those people is Steven Soderbergh. From his first film, a little independent...
Pros: Acting, Directing, Writing, Style, You Name It – Yet Another Great Coen Brothers Film Cons: An Attention Span Is Required (Not A Real Con, Though)
Synopsis: A laconic barber (Billy Bob Thornton) in a small California town sees an opportunity to escape from a loveless marriage and his bland life if he can raise $10,000 to invest in dry-cleaning. However, the simple scheme he tries to come up ...
Pros: A great tale about very ordinary people Cons: No Steve Buscemi!
I will not miss a Coen brothers movie unless there are very dire circumstances. Add Billy Bob Thornton and Frances McDormand and the odds are very good that the movie will be entertaining. "The Man Who Wasn't There" was indeed entertaining.
Pros: Stylish, sly crime noir. Cons: Dream-like qualities sometimes make the film sluggish.
Leave it to the Coen Brothers to make this film now. With their previous effort, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, they achieved a stylistic grace which combined drama, comedy, pathos and spirituality, and in so doing they wowed the critics as never...
Pros: Does Memento finally have some competition in the ideas category? Cons: Deliberate pacing might be a problem for some, but not for those with proper expectations.
Note: I am endeavoring to equally review this film and also give some working knowledge of all cultural and literary theories the Coen Bros. employ so that other viewers who are interested in seeing this highly, highly, highly worthwhile film might enjoy...
Pros: Captures the 1950s film noir stylishness; the acting and cinematography Cons: Feels long
As I watched Billy Bob Thornton in The Man Who Wasn’t There, I kept comparing him to Humphrey Bogart. Both men are physically alike with slim, lanky bodies and gaunt features. Bogart had a signature prop; he smoked cigarettes on screen to convey his...
Pros: Good acting, cinematography. Interesting plot and characters.
Cons: What the heck was this movie about?
This movie represents the fifties as a period when people did not express themselves outwardly too well. There is also a lot of talk about business and people in business suits. Ed Crane is the ultra-fifties type: a man with very anemic passions, a...
Pros: Lush film noir, great acting, characters who deserve death, twisty ending... Cons: Not a one!
The Coen brothers have once again issued a release that can only be termed "perfect." The texture, derived from the rediscovery of true film noir in all its gritty glory and dark mystery, is sublime. The acting is superb throughout. The plot is...
Pros: Its a fantastic film in true Coen brothers style. Cons: Pretty Damn depressing.
Yes, there are things in life, emotions, feelings we have for others, that there are no words for in this world. And there really aren’t any words to describe the feeling one would have after seeing the Coen Brother’s new film THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE. I...
Pros: An exercise in brilliant movie making Cons: Slow.... Slow.... Slow...
There is a scene in "The Man Who Wasn't There" that caught my attention. In a colorless interrogation room, a lawyer paces feverishly. The more he paces, the more inspired he becomes. Finally, the lawyer comes to a stop in the middle of the room....
Pros: Billy Bob Thornton and Tony Shalhoub give Oscar-caliber performances Cons: Incredibly dull with a lead character that doesn't inspire much passion or sympathy
There are a few filmmakers working today who immediately garner respect and interest in whatever their latest project is. A handful of these writer and directors have even managed to maintain a flawless track record (at least by yours truly) receiving...
Pros: strong performaces, complex and rich script, beautifully shot Cons: subplots not quite as powerful or interesting as main plot
The Man Who Wasn’t There, the ninth film by Joel and Ethan Coen, is perhaps the brothers’ darkest and most emotionally resonant film. It is a film noir set in suburban California in 1949 about a man whose quest for something greater ultimately leads to ...
Pros: brilliant photography, stylish writing Cons: good luck finding it in a theater near you
"The Man Who Wasn't There" is an absolutely gorgeous movie. The writing is very nearly flawless, holding to the hard-boiled style throughout, while allowing for the understated emotion that characterizes the best film noir. In a few places, the Coen...
Pros: Witty and goodlooking with plenty of twists. An interesting tale well told. Cons: Slighty artsy in places.
Quite simply, this is a great movie.
I have been asked if you need to be a Coen brothers fan to like it and the honest answer is, I don't know. I like the Coen brothers' stuff, and I loved this one too.
Pros: The way it was filmed. Cons: Some of the Casting
The Coen brothers just keep getting better and better with each movie they release (save for "The Big Lebowski"). After "O' Brother Where Are You", you might have wondered if they could get any better than that. Well they have and this movie is living...
Pros: great acting, wonderful homage to film noir of the 30's Cons: unneeded plot twist before the climactic occurance
The Man Who Wasn't There is another Coen Brothers triumph. This time they take on the genre of film noir and capture its essence beautifully. Billy Bob Thornton (great as usual)stars as Ed Crane, a barber totally devoid of emotions and any semblance of a...
Pros: Brilliant dialogue, great acting, and the thing just looks cool. Cons: I've heard some people say it's a little dull. I don't agree.
I can't even begin to tell you what kind of movie this actually is. Sure, the Coen bros. seem to be making a classic noir movie here (with a barber in the place of a detective) but they also wander into the realm of comedy and (almost) existential...
Pros: Wonderful performances by Thornton,McDormand,Bandalucci,Gandolfini and Tony Shaloub Cons: very weird script with lots of donut holes.
I just came from a sneak preview of "The Man Who Wasn't There." Someone gave me two free tickets. So, my husband and I went to the theatre about 1/2 early and waited on a long line with others who also had free tickets. Then we entered the moviehouse...
Pros: It's unique, clever and dark yet humorous. Cons: The story rambles towards the end.
Billy Bob Thornton plays one of those characters I really got to liking. From the first scene I knew he was going to be fun to watch. Smoke curls up into a drifting shot of a barber shop interior and we quickly learn that Billy Bob's character is a...
Pros: A brilliant piece of cinematography; Thornton is excellent Cons: If you don't like black and white, it might be hard viewing
Call me biased, but I believe that the Coen brothers are the greatest and most brilliant film making team ever. Yeah, Roman Polanski is good; Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are great with the effects; and there's countless others who've created...
Pros: The cinematography, Billy Bob Thornton, the macabre humour Cons: few, but be patient
The Coen’s go black and white but the true genius is still as bright as ever. It’s a homage to noir, with the slant of the duos’ unique skewed humour with a little bit of the absurd thrown in. It’s the closest in tone and narrative to Ethan’s short...
Pros: Great cinematography and production.
Great acting Cons: A Critic's darling= Total Bore
Here we go again, yet another movie that is over-praised by the critics yet is a total bore.
The Coen brother’s latest is a tribute to those black and white film noir classics.
The acting is excellent as well as the cinematography.
Billy...
I live in such a googy small town that this was playing as a "Special Events" - the regular movie houses wouldn't touch it! Looking back - I think it was a perfect choice.
The latest by the Cohen Brothers is not a dissapointment - a very...
A dissatisfied barber in the 1940s decides to blackmail his wife's lover in order to get startup capital for a new dry cleaning business. The scheme b...More at HotMovieSale.com
The new film from Joel and Eathan Cohen, The Man Who Wasn t There, set in the summer of 1949 has as its title character Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton),...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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