Review of The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) by Donovan D — 02 Feb 2008

Great neo-noir by the Coen Brothers. For style and structure, the Man Who Wasn't There captured the classic period of Noir perfectly - never dipping into over-the-top detective cliches while keeping to the conventions.

There probably have been very few noir anti-heroes as cynical and vacant as Ed Crane, played with deadpan perfection by Billy Bob Thornton. Of the two Coen Brothers films of 2001, The Man Who Wasn't There may not have made as big a commercial splash as their comic Depression-era adaptation of The Odyssey, but there is a timeless quality to this film that makes it a true gem in its own right.