'Man' is a Coen masterpiece

The Man Who Wasn't There - R
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand
Director: Joel Coen The Coen brothers are easily some of the greatest American storytellers of modern times. These guys give us bowlers named Jesus, Odysseus à la fried chicken and moonshine and hacked limbs in wood chippers. For those who talk the talk, to say that something is "Coen" is to connote something specific, indeed. Auteurs in the purest sense, what would you expect when they bring their signature style to film noir? I'm not so sure you'd expect "The Man Who Wasn't There." One of the finest, if not arguably the finest of their films, "The Man Who Wasn't There" is classic Coen brothers taken one step further. The film follows hard-boiled barber Ed Crane, played masterfully by Billy Bob Thornton, who plans on entering a partnership with a "dry cleaning" entrepreneur after he stops by for a trim. In the hands of anyone else, this pitch would be laughed out on its keaster in Tinsel Town. In the hands of the Coens, it's crafted into an arresting and trademark absurdist noir masterpiece. Of course, the Coens could not have accomplished this solo. With solid performances all the way around, it is Billy Bob Thornton who brilliantly shines in what could have been one of the dullest characters to ever grace the silver screen. Playing a small town barber who speaks and shows the amount of emotion equivalent to a block of wood, Thornton manages to be both stoically understated and absolutely captivating simultaneously. Furthermore, cinematographer Roger Deakins, a long-time Coen staple, manages to make color seem absolutely bland. Filmed in lush black and white, the textures and lighting of this film are utterly breathtaking, making "The Man Who Wasn't There" one of those rare films that is easily as enjoyable without the sound. Likewise, Carter Burwell's minimalist original score is simply haunting. The DVD version of this film contains first time commentary tracks from the Coens and Thornton. The trio keeps things light in this brooding film, often joking more than actually "commentating" per se. There is also an excellent and informative interview with Deakins that will excite any true film fan, as he talks about the classic noirs that inspired his photography. The deleted scenes are pointless but harmless, and the behind-the-scenes documentary basically consists of cast and crew sharing their thoughts on characters and the film. Also included are the theatrical trailer, two TV spots, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery and filmographies. Sadly, "The Man Who Wasn't There" was more like "The Film That Wasn't There" at this year's Oscars. Grossly overlooked by the Academy, it was pitifully nominated for only one, in Best Cinematography, and I would argue with any "Lord of the Rings" fan that Deakins should have won, hands-down. Don't make their same mistake. This film deserves a definite place in your personal collection and is well worth the cash.