sergelamarche Let's say it's a dark comedy. Things that happens in a sociopathic, sometimes psychopathic, society. Frances is more funny than I thought. Now I know why she often looks like shes about to laugh uncontrollably. Billy is hilarious.

Amy Adler Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton) is a barber in a small California town circa 1948. A quiet man who rarely speaks more than a few sentences on any topic, he has been married to Doris (Frances McDormand) for many years. Doris is more sociable and drags Ed to parties and dinners. She is a bookkeeper for Big Mike (James Gandolfini), a department store bigwig by marriage. Somehow, Ed gets news that Doris is cheating on him with Big Mike. Therefore, he concocts a scheme to blackmail the Big Man with a secret letter. Ed wants to invest money with an up and coming businessman and maybe escape his routine. However, Mike finds out and invites Ed to his office on another pretext. In the office, Big M tries to kill Ed who fights back with a handy letter opener. In a horrifying scene, Mike dies slowly in a gurgle of blood. Ed thinks his tracks are concealed. But, soon, DORIS is arrested for Mike's murder, when it is discovered she has embezzled money from the accounts. Will Ed let Doris take the rap for him? Into this deadly mix comes a piano playing Lolita (Scarlett Johanssen) who takes Ed's attention off the crisis in his life. In this labyrinth movie, there are more twists and turns ahead! Here is another winner from the national treasure of the Coen Brothers. Shot in black and white, it is a quietly noir movie of great power, in words and concepts. Thornton delivers a performance of praise while all of the others, including Gandolfini, do likewise. Naturally, the art direction and costumes bring the forties to life with gusto. So, don't say there isn't anything to do this evening when you can get your mitts on this flick!

Python Hyena The Man Who Wasn't There (2001): Dir: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen / Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson: Film about accepting what happens yet drifting into a state of mind where we feel imperishable. Billy Bob Thornton plays a barber who suspects his wife of an affair with her boss. When a travelling salesman passes through he devises a blackmail scheme that goes wrong resulting in his wife going to prison for a murder she did not commit. Directors Joel and Ethan Coen reflect upon film noir shooting it in black and white, and apply the same wit they stylized in Blood Simple and The Big Lebowski. Thornton is excellent as a man who lives life without expecting much change. His fate isn't exactly uplifting but his torn conscience and barber's eye for hair make for an interesting performance. Frances McDormand plays his wife caught in adultery and pays double the consequence. Tony Shalhoub is hilarious as a lawyer who doesn't believe Thornton when he confesses, and becomes too expensive to hire again. James Gandolfini is featured as McDormand's boss whose fate matches his consequence and his broken trust. Scarlett Johansson has a quiet role as a young piano player whom Thornton admires. It regards the mind as Thornton spaces himself from reality, responsibility and eventually consequence. Score: 8 / 10

namashi_1 The Coen Bros are amongst the most talented & influential filmmakers working in filmdom today & I expected 'The Man Who Wasn't There' to be a yet another stunner by the Oscar-Winners. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. Its An Average Fare, that relies on a story that's predicable. 'The Man Who Wasn't There' Synopsis: A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss & lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong.'The Man Who Wasn't There' offers nothing new to the genre of neo-noir. I was engrossed, but only in parts, particularly in the first-hour, which offers some very interesting sequences. But, the second-hour, is a complete misfire. Also, the lethargic pacing acts as a deterrent. The Coen Bros certainly aren't in their elements this time around. Their Screenplay has a few impressive moments, but otherwise, its predictable. Joel Coen's Direction, however, is atmospheric. Cinematography is excellent. Editing is not crisp enough. Art Design is fabulous.Performance-Wise: Billy Bob Thornton delivers a believable performance. Frances McDormand is fantastic. She's the real scene-stealer here! The Late/Great James Gandolfini shines in a brief role, while Tony Shalhoub is first-rate. Scarlett Johansson is awkward. Richard Jenkins is ever-effective. On the whole, 'The Man Who Wasn't There' scores less on pluses.