IMDb > The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
The Man Who Wasn't There
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The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) More at IMDbPro »

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The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) -- A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss and lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong.
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) -- A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss and lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong.
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) -- Virgin.net Movies - Trailer (WMP)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   37,491 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Joel Coen
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Writers (WGA):
Joel Coen (written by) &
Ethan Coen (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Man Who Wasn't There on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 October 2001 (UK) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
The last thing on his mind is murder.
Plot:
A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss and lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 19 wins & 32 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(30 articles)
Top Ten Working American Directors
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 7 October 2009, 2:18 AM, PDT)

What I Watched, What You Watched: Installment #11
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 4 October 2009, 4:04 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
one of the Coen brothers best, a film that becomes a masterpiece after a while. more (396 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Barber Project (USA) (working title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for a scene of violence.
Runtime:
116 min | Spain:118 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Filming Locations:
Glendale, California, USA more
Company:
Good Machine more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
During the scene where Ed visit's his wife in prison, a photograph of a circle is seen on the table in front of him - a link both to Circle Films, which was the company behind the Coen brothers in their earlier films, and The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)'s circle gag. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: In the opening scene a reflection of the camera and scaffolding is visible in the barber pole as the angle shifts from looking up to looking down. more
Quotes:
Ed Crane: ...maybe there I can tell her all those things they don't have words for here. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Big Bang: (#1.2)" (2007) more
Soundtrack:
Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 (Pathetique) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
40 out of 49 people found the following comment useful.
one of the Coen brothers best, a film that becomes a masterpiece after a while., 11 November 2001
10/10
Author: MisterWhiplash from United States

Joel and Ethan Coens' The Man Who Wasn't There doesn't (how could it) top their first film-noir classic Blood Simple, but it is still an incredibly stylish and acted with pizazz type of film which should definitely get better with multiple viewings. Billy Bob Thornton turns in another top shelve job (geniusly subtle, even for him) as a quiet and observant barber named Ed, who gets drawn into an unfortunate string of events with his wife (Frances McDormand) who has cheated on him with Big Dave (James Gandolfini who in his scattered minutes on the screen shows his ability for Oscar nomination-type work) and with the usual line of events that would come from a noir comes compelling characters and set-pieces that show's Ed in a downfall though it is from a life the never wanted to lead in the first place. If Sartre decided to throw out the politics and religion and stick to the being and nothingness and write a hard-boiled novel, this might be it.

In short, the Coen Brothers have once again struck a little gem in the rough, shot in black and white and stylized to a T. I feel like picking up a Cain book after watching this. And, on top of this, on repeat viewings I can say that it becomes even more engrossing, and just a bit more entertaining if really ready to dig into the atmosphere. It may be thick enough to kill a few stray kittens, but it's got a genuine pathos to it too. And just when you think there isn't enough Coen strangeness, wait till the aliens arrive. A+

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Things I learned watching this movie nickn07
strikingly similar to american beauty? (spoilers) csmith3-1
Come on, Ed is homosexual notelrahckcirtap
where did the money go? lgordon2
Scarlett Johannsen goombaruskirusky
Favorite Character!!!! richsass
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