The Man Who Wasn't There

2001 • 116 minutes

About this movie

The Coen Brothers are back with a dark and twisted film noir unlike anything you've ever seen. Set in a small 1949 California town, this is the story of a seemingly simple barber, who turns to blackmail and revenge to escape his achingly dull life. But in the tradition of classic noir, nothing goes as planned and nothing is as it seems. And as the barber's plot unravels, the delicious surprises, stunning revelations and just plain strange occurrences will disturb and delight you long after the film has ended.

Ratings and reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes® $core fails, as for ever & for always. RT Can't control Real Viewers Real Feelings on Coen Bros' Films. Much Good Film, 4-1/2 ★s. •Mic Pete Cl;-)~ Ririe, Idaho USA [ PS - RT, jog on! ]

An instant classic that is a great nod to classics. Thornton is excellent in this, including his narration, and the directions the movie goes in are perfect. The Forms did great with this, like with future films of theirs after this, like A Serious Man, and No Country For Old Men, which to me is still their best film. However The Man Who Wasn't There is a classic that celebrates classics and stands the test of time. Especially today.

This one surely ranks among the Cohen brothers finest films which means you're in for a treat if you haven't seen it. Enjoy.