The Man Who Wasn't There
by: Will Duke
Directed by: Joel Coen
Produced by: Ethan Coen
Starring: Billy Bob Thorton, Francis McDormand, James Gandolfini, Scarlett Johansson
Screenplay by: The Coen Brothers
Trailer: http://www.themanwhowasntthere.com/trailer.htm

Grade: A

The Man Who Wasn’t There is the most recent film by the Coen brothers. The film is set in California; the year is 1949. Once the audience realizes that this film is one that attempts to impress them with its sweeping plot changes, the plot becomes predictably unpredictable. Shot in black and white, the cinematography is an impressive homage to the classic film noir genre and the amoral underworld of the 1950’s.

If this film did not have the Coen brothers’ impressive track record setting a precedent for viewers, it would receive even higher acclaim than it is garnering now. When viewing The Man Who Wasn’t There, the most important thing is to go into the film without any expectations. 

One’s initial urge is to look for more blatant satire and humor in The Man Who Wasn’t There; such humor is what makes the Coen brothers’ previous films such as Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) popular with American audiences. Their previous films have featured  stellar casts playing goofball criminals whose plans never cease to be foiled and merit rolling laughter from audiences. The Man Who Wasn't There lacks that Coenesque humor but still manages to stand on its own as one of the best films of the year.

This year has been full of highly anticipated films that have disappointed most viewers, but The Man Who Wasn’t There comes awfully close to reaching the pinnacle of filmmaking that audiences pay good money to experience. I give it an A.