Have you ever heard the phrase "too clever by a half"? That's how I felt about The Man Who Wasn't There, an infuriating movie to review, and even harder to describe, especially if you haven't seen it. I can sort of describe the plot of the movie, but that's missing the point, since it's all the style, and dialogue, and references to other films. Lots and lots of references to other films.
I say clever not in the pejorative sense that I use the word to describe my dreaded Clever Comedy genre. I mean it literally. Joel and Ethan Coen, who made at least four great movies and a few terrible ones, are obviously very witty, intelligent, and, well, clever. This is smart movie made by smart people, but I am not sure if it is anything else.
On the surface, it is a subtle parody of the film noir genre, so subtle that I would guess that most people who have not seen a lot of the classics might think the movie was played for real and find it infuriating. Shot in black-and-white, it stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Craine, a low-key, chain smoking barber who discovers that his wife (Frances McDormand) is having an affair with her business partner, Big Dave (James Gandolfini). Around the same time a shady businessman (Jon Polito) interests Ed in a new business-dry cleaning. If Ed can provide $10,000, they might become rich in the new industry. Ed gets the money in a novel way- he writes an anonymous extortion letter to Big Dave, telling him that if he doesn't leave the money in a designated place, Ed will tell himself about the affair. Oh, and that's the first fifteen minuets.
The movie is very, very subtle. Everything, from the violence, to the comedy, is shown an unemotional, laid back manner. Maybe that was the point, as Ed never seems to get very upset about anything, even though he tells us he does. But the movie doesn't add up to anything. There is a strange subplot about UFO's that doesn't go anywhere, and the ending just feels wrong. The movie is chuckle-funny, but there are no real wocka wocka moments. And in the end, the movie seem go anywhere or mean anything. I can't tell people not to see a movie this well conceived or thought out, but in the end that's all it is. It's like watching Hendrix playing scales- you're certainly impressed, but wouldn't you rather hear a rendition of "Purple Haze"?
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)