The Man Who Wasn't There Movie Review

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

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Written by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (uncredited)
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, James Gandolfini, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Jenkins, Tony Shalhoub
Rated: R
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Plot
In this black-and-white film noir set in 1949, 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.

Verdict
It's a genre from the past, but it's done incredibly well. All of the actors are spot on and the twisting story is what makes this. This feels like a lot of the Coen movies, and that's a good thing. The way this story wraps up is really neat. The main character is definitely punished for his crime, but that is anything but straight forward with his original crime creating a ripple that affects everyone around him.
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Review
The Coen's are talented. No Country for Old Men (read my review) is incredible, Inside Llewyn Davis is one of my favorites, and Hail Caesar! (read my review) is a lot of fun.
Even their first film Blood Simple (read my review) is impressive.

Billy Bob Thornton plays Ed Crane.

There stories are usually twisting, with the best laid plans imploding. Life has a way of getting you if you try to outsmart it in the Coen movies.
Film noir is an all but abandoned genre, but this pulls in everything typical of the genre which makes it feel a bit more indie and artistic. It's a solid movie even if the gray scale turns a few people away. The twist in the story is just brilliant.

James Gandolfini plays Big Dave.

This has a great setup, though the Coen's usually excel at that. Ed is a barber and suspects his wife is cheating on him with Big Dave. He plans to blackmail Big Dave to raise funds for a business investment. I had a feeling from the start that Ed's investment opportunity was a bit too shady. Ed had to suspect something, especially when the guy got so giddy talking about money.
It could just be something different. Ed sees it as his best way to escape his current life. Thornton plays the character well. Ed is laconic, but he has a presence.

Ed's scheme only gets so far. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but it's just the first of many twists. We and Ed get more than a few surprises. It's an intricate plot. Everything that happens ties directly back to Ed's blackmail scheme. He thought he was going to improve his life, but he hurts himself and everyone around him. Ed committed a crime, but he gets charged with the repercussions of the crime. You can't say he didn't earn it, but the way the blackmail comes back to bite him is such a neat story twist and distinctly the Coen brothers.

Tony Shaloub plays a fast talking lawyer.

They can tackle different genres  with such effectiveness. They are excellent directors with a great eye. A lot of scenes have the film noir look, but it looks deceptively easy.