The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Note Générale:

7,7/10   

Réalisateur:

Joel Coen
(suite)

Scénaristes (WGA):

Joel Coen (written by) &
Ethan Coen (written by)

Date de sortie:

26 octobre 2001 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drame

Accroche:

The last thing on his mind is murder.

Intrigue:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Blackmail | Chain Smoking | Barber | Laconic | Piano

Récompenses:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 19 wins & 32 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Black and White and Gray All Over

Ensemble

Billy Bob Thornton	...	Ed Crane
Frances McDormand	...	Doris Crane
Michael Badalucco	...	Frank
James Gandolfini	...	Big Dave Brewster
Katherine Borowitz	...	Ann Nirdlinger Brewster
Jon Polito	...	Creighton Tolliver
Scarlett Johansson	...	Birdy Abundas
Richard Jenkins	...	Walter Abundas
Tony Shalhoub	...	Freddy Riedenschneider
Christopher Kriesa	...	Officer Persky
Brian Haley	...	Officer Krebs
Jack McGee	...	P.I. Burns
Gregg Binkley	...	The New Man
Alan Fudge	...	Dr. Diedrickson
Lilyan Chauvin	...	Medium
Adam Alexi-Malle	...	Jacques Carcanogues
Ted Rooney	...	Bingo Caller
Abraham Benrubi	...	Party Man
Christian Ferratti	...	Child
Rhoda Gemignani	...	Costanza
E.J. Callahan	...	Customer
Brooke Smith	...	Sobbing Prisoner
Ron Ross	...	Banker
Hallie Singleton	...	Waitress
Jon Donnelly	...	Gatto Eater
Dan Martin	...	Bailiff
Nicholas Lanier	...	Tony
Tom Dahlgren	...	Judge #1
Booth Colman	...	Judge #2
Stanley DeSantis	...	New Man's Customer (as Stanley Desantis)
Peter Siragusa	...	Bartender
Christopher McDonald	...	Macadam Salesman
Rick Scarry	...	District Attorney
George Ives	...	Lloyd Garroway
Devon Cole Borisoff	...	Swimming Boy (as Devin Cole Borisoff)
Mary Bogue	...	Prisoner Visitor
Don Donati	...	Pie Contest Timer
Arthur Reeves	...	Flophouse Clerk
Michelle Weber	...	Dancer (as Michelle Rae Weber)
Randi Pareira	...	Dancer
Robert Loftin	...	Dancer
Kenneth Hughes	...	Dancer
Gordon Hart	...	Dancer
Brenda Mae Hamilton	...	Dancer
Lloyd Gordon	...	Dancer
Leonard Crofoot	...	Dancer
Rita Bland	...	Dancer
Audrey K. Baranishyn	...	Dancer (as Audrey Baranishyn)
Qyn Hughes	...	Dancer
Rachel McDonald	...	Dancer
reste de la distribution par ordre alphabétique:
Craig Berenson	...	Jail Guy (uncredited)
Joan Blair	...	Prison Matron (uncredited)
Geoffrey Gould	...	Alpine Rope Toss Man (uncredited)
Phil Hawn	...	Man in Courtroom (uncredited)
Cherilyn Hayres	...	Swing Dancer (uncredited)
John Michael Higgins	...	Emergency Room Physician (uncredited)
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Female inmate (uncredited)
Peter Schrum	...	Truck Driver (uncredited)
Max Thayer	...	Witness (uncredited)

Réalisé par
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen		(uncredited)

Scénaristes (WGA)
Joel Coen		(written by) &
Ethan Coen		(written by)

Produit par
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
John Cameron	....	co-producer
Ethan Coen	....	producer
Eric Fellner	....	executive producer
Robert Graf	....	associate producer
Joel Coen	....	producer (uncredited)

Musique originale
Carter Burwell

Image
Roger Deakins

Montage
Ethan Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Joel Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Tricia Cooke

Distribution des rôles
Ellen Chenoweth

Création des décors
Dennis Gassner

Direction artistique
Chris Gorak

Décorateur de plateau
Chris L. Spellman		(as Chris Spellman)

Création des costumes
Mary Zophres

Maquillage
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup supervisor (as Jean Black)
Carol F. Doran	....	wigs (as Carol Doran)
Lynne K. Eagan	....	makeup artist: Mr. Thornton (as Lynne Eagan)
Paul LeBlanc	....	hair designer
Renate Leuschner	....	wigs (as Renata Leischner)
Amy Schmiederer	....	key makeup artist
Joani Yarbrough	....	key hair stylist
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Susan Mills	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Directeur de production
John Cameron	....	unit production manager
David Diliberto	....	post-production supervisor
Michelle Wright	....	executive in charge of production: Working Title Films

Assistant réalisateur
Ime Etuk	....	dga trainee
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Rusty Mahmood	....	second second assistant director
Jonathan McGarry	....	second assistant director

Département Art
Damon Allison	....	set dresser
J. Todd Anderson	....	hand-to-eye man
Scott Bobbitt	....	leadman
Roosevelt Bonner	....	gangboss painter
Gert Broekema	....	props assistant
Thomas E. Brown	....	paint supervisor (as Thomas Brown)
Adolfo Castanon	....	greensperson
Stacy Clinger	....	gangboss painter
Alberto Delgado	....	greensperson
John Dugan	....	plaster foreman
David French	....	sculptor
Kristen Gassner	....	assistant set decorator
Lori Goldbach	....	construction administrative assistant
Donald Goodman	....	drapery foreman (as Don Goodman)
Cheryl Gould	....	set dresser
Ted Haigh	....	graphic designer
Lance Hammer	....	assistant art director
Kearsley Higgins	....	art department administrator
Ritchie Kremer	....	property master
Larry Laurent	....	paint foreman
John Leone	....	labor foreman
Jeff Markwith	....	set designer
James P. Meehan	....	on-set dresser (as James Meehan)
Grant Osborn	....	gangboss painter
Sam Page	....	art department assistant
Jeff Passanante	....	construction coordinator
Gay Perello	....	assistant property master
Eric Ramirez	....	set dresser
Fred Seibly	....	signwriter
Mark Sparks	....	location construction foreman (as Mark A. Sparks)
Edward L. Turk	....	stage construction foreman
Matt Orefice	....	property department researcher (uncredited)

Technicien du son
Benjamin Cheah	....	foley editor (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Jesse Ehredt	....	pre-mix recordist
Chris Fielder	....	transfer assistant editor
Eugene Gearty	....	sound designer
Elisabeth Giglio	....	sound studio manager: C5, Inc.
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randy Johnson)
Peter F. Kurland	....	production sound mixer (as Peter Kurland)
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Igor Nikolic	....	assistant sound editor
Eric Potter	....	field recordist
Jennifer Ralston	....	foley supervisor
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue editor
Jerry Ross	....	sound editor
Jerry Ross	....	utility sound technician
Alex Soto	....	assistant sound editor
Larry Wineland	....	apprentice sound editor
Lila Yomtoob	....	sound intern
Allan Zaleski	....	sound effects transfer assistant (as Alan Zaleski)

Effets spéciaux
Barry Beaulac	....	special effects technician
Peter Chesney Jr.	....	special effects assistant
Peter Chesney	....	special effects supervisor
Tom Chesney	....	special effects technician
Emmet Kane	....	special effects foreman
Michael Roundy	....	special effects gang boss (as Michael D. Roundy)
Vaughn Williams	....	special effects technician (as Vaughn M. Williams)
Roy Ceballos	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Sonny Kato Chapman	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Robert Pendergraft	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Brian Penikas	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)

Visual Effects
Patrick Ballin	....	visual effects editor: MVFX
Travis Baumann	....	compositor: MVFX
John Cassella	....	3D artist: MVFX (as John Cassella Jr.)
Nicolle Cornute	....	paint/roto artist: MVFX
Matt Dessero	....	digital effects supervisor: MVFX
Shannon Blake Gans	....	miniatures construction: Hunter/Gratzner Industries
Gary George	....	I/O supervisor: MVFX
Matthew Gratzner	....	miniatures construction: Hunter/Gratzner Industries
Ian Hunter	....	miniatures construction: Hunter/Gratzner Industries
Matt Magnolia	....	visual effects coordinator: MVFX (as Matt '45' Magnolia)
Diana Miao	....	3D artist: MVFX
Amanda Morrison	....	compositor: MVFX
Jake Morrison	....	compositor: MVFX
Amit Sethi	....	digital artist: Balsmeyer & Everett Inc.
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects supervisor
Jonathan F. Styrlund	....	digital effects producer: MVFX (as Jonathan Styrlund)
Daniel Sunwoo	....	3D artist: MVFX
Eric Weinschenk	....	compositor: MVFX (as Eric W. Weinschenk)
Chris Wood	....	paint/roto supervisor: MVFX
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Leigh-Alexandra Jacob	....	lead painter (uncredited)
Scott Lukowski	....	model maker (uncredited)
James Waterhouse	....	model crew chief (uncredited)

Cascadeur
Ken Clark	....	stunts
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Jennifer Lamb	....	stunts

Caméra et Département Electrique
Erik Bernstein	....	best boy electric
Josh Blakeslee	....	second assistant camera (as Joshua Blakeslee)
Will Dearborn	....	camera loader
Clinton Dougherty	....	camera operator (as Clint Dougherty)
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	still photographer
Robert Gray	....	key grip (as Bob Gray)
Quinn Grove	....	best boy grip
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Andy Harris	....	first assistant camera
Elizabeth Ingram	....	camera intern
Chris Napolitano	....	rigging gaffer
Edward R. Nedin	....	electric rigging best boy
Mark R. Shultz	....	key rigging grip
Martin Weight	....	video assist operator (as Marty Weight)
Paul David Williams	....	rigging best boy grip (as Paul Williams)
Randy Woodside	....	chief lighting technician
James Barrett	....	electrician (uncredited)
Billy Craft	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Andrew Dumas	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Jeff Durling	....	electrician (uncredited)
Raymond Gonzales	....	electrician (uncredited)
Rick Harris	....	grip (uncredited)
Daisuke Dice Miyake	....	grip (uncredited)
Sean Smith	....	electrician (uncredited)

Département Casting
Sondra James	....	voice casting (as Sandra James)
Amanda Koblin	....	casting associate
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Joseph Hicks	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Département Costume et garde-Robe
María Aguilar	....	assistant costume designer (as Maria Aguilar)
Cha Blevins	....	costume supervisor (as Deborah 'Cha' Blevins)
Jenny Eagan	....	set costumer
Mila Hermanovski	....	wardrobe assistant
Mary Liane	....	costumer
Cookie Lopez	....	key set costumer
Guy Miracle	....	set costumer
Pablo Nantas	....	tailor (as Pablo B. Nantas)
Zhanna Tataryan	....	costumer
Danielle Valenciano	....	assistant costume designer
Christine Wada	....	costume ager/dyer
Guy Miracle	....	costumer (uncredited)
Lori Jean Sacks	....	costumer (uncredited)

Dpartement Editorial
Karyn Anonia	....	assistant film editor
David Diliberto	....	associate film editor
Catherine Farrell	....	post-production assistant
Vida Fitzgerald	....	assistant film editor
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Neil A. Stelzner	....	assistant film editor

Département Musique
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Michael Farrow	....	music scoring mixer
Jonathan Feldman	....	musician: piano performances
Tony Finno	....	music copyist
Steve Kasow	....	assistant music editor
Todd Kasow	....	music supervisor
Aquim Krajka	....	musician: accordion solo
Dean Parker	....	assistant to composer
Sandra Park	....	music contractor
Kevin E. Patterson	....	music playback (as Kevin Patterson)
Chris Robertson	....	music clearance (uncredited)

Département Transport
James R. Brown	....	driver co-captain (as James Brown)
William F. Luehm	....	picture car captain
Paul Ripple	....	transportation assistant
Timothy P. Ryan	....	transportation captain (as Tim Ryan)
Don Tardino	....	transportation coordinator
Jon Tardino	....	driver captain
Bruce Callahan	....	transportation (uncredited)
James Nordberg	....	transportation (uncredited)

Divers
Kimberly Aguirre	....	payroll accountant
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer: Balsmeyer & Everett Inc.
Paul Barry	....	second assistant accountant
Julie Carideo	....	assistant production coordinator
Katie Cooper	....	assistant: Mr. Bevan, Working Title Films
Tony Davis	....	company coordinator: Working Title Films
Karen Ruth Getchell	....	production coordinator
David Goodman	....	assistant to cast
Eric Hamme	....	set production assistant
Rachel Holroyd	....	head of legal/business affairs: Working Title Films
Aliza James	....	assistant: Mr. Fellner, Working Title Films
Nancy G. James	....	craft service (as Nancy James)
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Kathy Kelehan	....	title producer: Balsmeyer & Everett Inc.
Ivan Kerum	....	chef: Toby's Food Service
Cheryl Kurk	....	production accountant
Bill Landrum	....	choreographer
Jacqui Landrum	....	choreographer
Mary Macias	....	alteration fitter
France Myung Metz	....	key assistant location manager (as France Metz)
Angela Morrison	....	chief operating officer: Working Title Films
Michael M. Mosley	....	craft service assistant (as Mike Mosley)
Smriti Mundhra	....	production secretary
Donald Murphy	....	script supervisor
Travis Nicholson	....	assistant: Pedro Coen
Kevin O'Shea	....	insurance services: Aon/Albert G. Ruben
Chrissy Phelan	....	office production assistant
Taylor Phillips	....	set production assistant
Keith Potter	....	set production assistant
Kei Rowan-Young	....	assistant location manager
Neda Rudela	....	chef: Toby's Food Service (as Neda Kerum)
Alan J. Schoolcraft	....	secretary general: Mike Zoss Productions
Kristin Scott	....	assistant: Mr. Thornton
Ned R. Shapiro	....	location manager (as Ned Shapiro)
Barbara-Ann Stein	....	post-production accountant (as Barbara Ann Stein)
Pavel Sterba	....	assistant location manager
Lynn Struiksma	....	set production assistant
Eileen Sullivan	....	friend of the firm
Richard Vanegas	....	barber cast trainer
Chris Wessman	....	office production assistant
Tiffany Weston	....	location assistant
Odessa Whitmire	....	assistant: Mr. Thornton
Beverly Wood	....	lab consultant
Karen Yokomizo	....	first assistant accountant
Margie Balter	....	piano coach: Scarlett Johansson (uncredited)
Jason Brock	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Laura Gary	....	studio teacher (uncredited)

Merci
Li'l Greazer	....	special thanks
Senor Greazer	....	special thanks (as Señor Greazer)
Jennifer Jason Leigh	....	special thanks
Mohan Sawh	....	special thanks

Companies de production

• Good Machine
• Gramercy Pictures (I)
• Mike Zoss Productions
• The KL Line
• Working Title Films

Distributeurs

• Good Machine International (2001) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Bac Films (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2001) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2001-2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (theatrical)
• USA Films (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (Czech Republic)
• Impuls Home Entertainment (2002) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (video)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (VHS)
• USA Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Universal TV (2002) (USA) (TV) (as Universal)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2005) (Finland) (TV)

Technicien des effets spéciaux

• Chandler Group, The (miniature photography)
• Hunter/Gratzner Industries (miniatures construction) (as Hunter/Gratzner Industries)
• Makeup and Monsters (special effects makeup) (as Make-Up & Monsters)
• Manex Visual Effects (MVFX) (special visual effects) (as MVFX, Los Angeles)

Autres Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance services supplied by (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by
• Background Players  extras casting
• Balsmeyer and Everett  title design (as Balsmeyer & Everett Inc.)
• Body, The  music mixed at
• C-5  sound post-production (as C5 Inc.)
• C-5  sound re-recording mixing (as C5 Inc.)
• City and County of Los Angeles  special thanks (as The City and County of Los Angeles)
• Clinton Recording Studios  music recorded at
• Decca Records  soundtrack
• Digital Cinema  mixing facilities (as Digital Cinema)
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• Hollywood Rental Company  lighting equipment supplied by (as Hollywood Rental Co.)
• On-Core Productions  combined continuity (as On Core Productions)
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment provided by
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Paramount Studios  stage facilities
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll
• Shays & Murphey  production legal services (as Shays & Murphy)
• The Lot  stage facilities
• Tony's Food Service  catering (as Toby's Food Service)
• UMG Soundtracks  soundtrack
• Universal Studios  stage facilities

Autre(s) titre(s):

The Barber Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for a scene of violence.

Durée:

116 min | Spain:118 min

Pays:

UK | USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Noir et Blanc

Rapport de forme:

1,85 : 1

Son:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Classification:

New Zealand:R16 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38222)

Lieux de tournage:

Glendale, California, USA

Société:

Good Machine

Anecdotes:

Billy Bob Thornton jokingly made it look like Ed Crane had an erection in one of the scenes where he's watching Scarlett Johansson's character playing the piano. Only one of the prop guys noticed during production. When the Coen Brothers later found out, they made it clear that Ed would not be aroused in the scene.

Goofs:

Continuité: When Ed lets himself in at Nirdlingers, he unlocks and opens the door on the right side. But when he leaves, he opens the door to the left. That door would have locks at the top and/or bottom that hold it closed even with the deadbolt unlocked and they can only be released from the inside (the order is you unlock the deadbolt, go inside and then release those locks so both doors swing free.) There would have been no reason for Ed to have unlocked those as well, since he wasn't opening the store for business, so that door should not have been able to be opened.

Guillemet:

Ed Crane: I went to see a woman who was supposed to have powers of communicating with those who had "passed across" as she called it. She said that people who had passed across were picky about who they communicated with, not like most people you run into on this side. So you needed a guide, someone with a gift for talking to souls.

Connexions:

Référencé sur "Big Bang: (#1.2)" (2007)

Bande son:

Piano Sonata No.30 in E major, Op.109

Black and White and Gray All Over

Billy Bob Thornton has the perfect face for film noir. His craggy, drawn features lead up to sunken but large and staring eyes, and cheeks that look to be made out of plaster. Particularly when shot in black and white, his face becomes a landscape of shifting shadows, while he doesn't move a muscle. He is able to give the impression of a man at war with himself even while sitting perfectly still and staring ahead. He's Jeremy Irons, only without that unsettling accent. The Coen brothers take great advantage of their stars' granite physiognomy throughout "The Man That Wasn't There," constructing several shots around Thornton staring into a point just slightly away from the camera, impassive as an Easter Island head, moving only to smoke an ever-present cigarette while the obligatory noir voice-over narration runs. His voice is perfect, too: a kind of calm, measured rumbling, which describes incredible events but never seems amazed by them. Thornton says "I don't talk much," and it's true: he doesn't do much either, but he is still fascinating, and commands our attention.

The Coens take great relish in the noir conventions, even beyond the 1940s setting and the black and white photography (let's face it, we're so used to '40s movies in black and white that color would look a little weird). The story follows classic lines (with a few wild divergences): Thornton's character is a barber in one of those small postwar California towns that Hitchcock was so enamored of. He comes up with a scheme to raise some money, which naturally spins a little beyond what he anticipated. That's all I can say in good conscience, and the plot goes pretty far afield (I mean REALLY far afield, catering to fans both of Dashiell Hammett and "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers"). But really, you know what to expect, if you've ever seen one of these movies before: greed, dark secrets, and murder, in a world of fedoras, cigarette smoke, snapping lighters, and deep moral turpitude. A world where nothing or no one is what they seem, and the only sure thing is that, in the end, some sap is gonna get it.

As good as Thornton is, he can't carry the movie alone. Fortunately, he is surrounded by a top-notch cast, including a lot of familiar Coen veterans, and it is this that really makes this movie work. Michael Badalucco puts in a hilarious turn as Thornton's gabby brother-in-law, Frances McDormand is effective in her relatively few scenes as his brittle wife, and James Gandolfini plays yet another boorish tough guy to a turn. Practically shoplifting the movie is Tony Shalhoub, playing a fast-talking Sacramento lawyer who doesn't so much speak as summate. His discussion of Heisenberg is almost worth the ticket price alone. Christopher Kriesa and Brian Haley get a lot of mileage out of their brief appearances as a pair of slightly dim cops (aren't they all in these movies?)

Joel Coen, who directed, makes sure that the movie is consistently interesting to watch, too. Black and white photography being mostly about shades of gray, noir is perhaps the only genre that benefits from the relative primitiveness of its visual technology. Coen, therefore, sticks with it, unlike the colors he used in the '30s themed "O Brother Where Art Thou?" which managed to be both more fanciful and less surreal than this movie. He uses the light-and-shadow character of black and white to great effect here, carefully crafting his images to make best use of it. In fact, if the movie has a fault, it's that the images are a little TOO carefully crafted. The purest noir was cleverly filmed, but it allowed its cleverness to seep into the background. You have to watch a few times to pick up on how sharp the filmmaking is. Coen is unable to hide his arty cleverness, and so in the end, fun as it is to watch, the movie is a bit too pretty to truly capture the essence of its forbears. Perhaps realizing this, the Coens tweak the conventions mercilessly, and inject a streak of humor that is funnier for being played so straight (there are lots of funny lines, but don't be surprised if you are the only one in the theater laughing. Actually, don't be surprised if you are the only one in the theater, period.) The movie does require a bit of patience; the pacing is intense but quite slow, and the story wanders like a drunk driver. In the end, it is somewhat debatable whether the twisty plot is fully resolved, or whether that even matters. "The Man That Wasn't There" is best viewed as a wicked cinematic joke, and in that regard, it succeeds, in (Sam) spades.

But what do I know? I'm just some sap.