IMDb >
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at
blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
blockbuster.com
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Man Who Wasn't There (2001) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 62 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 2) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
26 October 2001 (UK) moreTagline:
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 synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 19 wins & 32 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(20 articles)
The 50 Greatest Trailers of All Time (From IFC. 26 June 2009, 1:28 PM, PDT)
Weekend Reading: Color in Black-and-White
(From Rope Of Silicon. 5 June 2009, 9:13 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Great pastiche of the noir genre moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Billy Bob Thornton | ... | Ed Crane | |
| Frances McDormand | ... | Doris Crane | |
| Michael Badalucco | ... | Frank | |
| James Gandolfini | ... | Big Dave Brewster | |
| Katherine Borowitz | ... | Ann Nirdlinger Brewster | |
| Jon Polito | ... | Creighton Tolliver | |
| Scarlett Johansson | ... | Birdy Abundas | |
| Richard Jenkins | ... | Walter Abundas | |
| Tony Shalhoub | ... | Freddy Riedenschneider | |
| Christopher Kriesa | ... | Officer Persky | |
| Brian Haley | ... | Officer Krebs | |
| Jack McGee | ... | P.I. Burns | |
| Gregg Binkley | ... | The New Man | |
| Alan Fudge | ... | Dr. Diedrickson | |
| Lilyan Chauvin | ... | Medium |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for a scene of violence.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
116 min | Spain:118 minLanguage:
EnglishColour:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreCertification:
New Zealand:R16 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38222)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Santa Rosa, California - a real town, and the setting for this film - is also the setting for Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt (1943). moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Ed lets himself in at Nirdlingers, he unlocks and opens the door on the right side. But when he leaves, he opens the door to the left. That door would have locks at the top and/or bottom that hold it closed even with the deadbolt unlocked and they can only be released from the inside (the order is you unlock the deadbolt, go inside and then release those locks so both doors swing free.) There would have been no reason for Ed to have unlocked those as well, since he wasn't opening the store for business, so that door should not have been able to be opened. moreSoundtrack:
Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 (Appassionata) moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Basic Instinct | Big Fish | The Outsiders | Romeo + Juliet | City of Shoulders and Noses |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Crime section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |














Ed Crane is a barber who quietly wants more from his life. When he meets a man with a business proposition he decides to go for it. He suspects his wife is having an affair with her boss and anonymously blackmails him however things in noir are never straightforward and blackmail leads to murder and a series of events are sparked off around Ed.
I must say I'm surprised this is as high up the imdb charts as it is, but I'm not surprised by the lukewarm reception it had from multiplex audiences. This is a slow, moody homage where things just happen, rather than a neat `start-middle-tidy finish-bad guy dies' type thing. The Cohen brothers have a reputation for the old quirks and here is no different mixing the steady noir narration with talk of haircuts and bingo makes for a strange if humorous mix. The plot is good but the noir feel mixed with weird going-ons may alienate many audiences.
Thornton is a perfect choice his features fit well in the black and white shadows and his voice suits the noir narration. McDormand is good and Gandolfini gets another good role and does well. The support is very good Badalucco, Shalhoub, Polito are all very good. Some elements of it are like a spot the TV face we have Benrubi from ER, Higgins from Ally McBeal and Abundas from Six Feet Under all in small roles. It's even nice to see a cameo from McDonald.
Overall this isn't as funny as it was billed, simply because it is a noir. As such the Cohens mix the familiar themes of that genre with all new subjects and create a great effect.