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The Man Who Wasn't There - 89
MPAA rating: R
Running Length: 116 minutes
Year of release: 2001
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, Adam Alexi-Malle, Michael Badalucco, Tony Shalhoub, and James Gandolfini
Director: Joel Coen
Category: Crime Drama, Comedy
Filmstock: Black & White
Story: 22/25
Acting: 22/25
Cinematography: 15/15
Execution: 10/10
Music: 8/10
Spin: 12/15
The Coen Brothers have turned out one of their best yet. Noir-ish, dread, antique-looking, and yet darkly funny, Man is exquisitely crafted and balanced in a way that only the Coen brothers could pull off. Casting is spot-on, roles well-played, and pacing (complete with reversals) seemingly plotted out with the aid of 3rd year calculus (without becoming overly weighty.) It might be what I'd call somewhat deliberately paced (meaning some people might consider it slow) as it unfolds like the old-fashioned dramas of yesteryear, but with a polish afforded by today's technology and a sharper wit. Even the narration provided by Thornton succeeds admirably in the end, and I typically dislike that sort of thing. A must-see, especially for cinematography buffs, as the black and white filming is spectacularly accomplished.