Review of The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) by Joel J — 10 Nov 2009

Though the typical Coen Brothers dialogue is as strong as ever in this film, the best thing about The Man Who Wasn't There is Billy Bob Thornton. This side of Sling Blade, Ed Crane (the barber who wasn't there) is possibly Thornton's best performance.

Always lurking in the smoke filled black-and-white back drop, Thornton is perfect as the ever present invisible leading man (he even narrates the story and still manages to stay insignificant...remarkable).

Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Michael Badalucco, Katherine Borowitz, Jon Polito, and Richard Jenkins all stay in true form as the Coen brothers' trite and true, but it is a young Scarlett Johannson that really shines among the star studded supporting cast.

Set in post-WWII California, the film delivers a eerie depiction of an America that is holding onto its innocense while slowly slipping into much more reckless and untrusting times. It isn't the acting and visuals of the film that keep it from being flawless - it is the pacing.

Much like Miller's Crossing, I think the flow of the movie is a bit tedious. I love the typical Coen twist and turns, but the picture really never seems to just "take off". Thorton and Johannson alone make this a must see - just make sure you are ready for a slow ride.