The Man Who Wasn't There

Although the supporting cast is first-rate, what really makes The Man Who Wasn't There fascinating to watch is the performance of Billy Bob Thornton and Roger Deakins' cinematography. In addition to fine performances, The Man Who Wasn't There also succeeds because it is, if nothing else, a beautiful film to watch. The cinematographer, Roger Deakins, creates a visual masterpiece. Thornton also makes the most of the part of Ed Crane, conveying a great deal in a very subtle performance. His performance shows that he is not only a man who is virtually ignored by others but also one who exhibits little connection with his fellow humans. Thornton depicts Crane as almost without emotion, showing almost no response to committing a murder, the tragic consequences his actions have on others, and his own horrible fate at the end of the film. The only connection Crane seems to show is a pathetic attachment to a neighborhood girl named Birdy Abundas (Scarlett Johannson), which at times seems to border on a slight obsession. However, it is never more than slight, as Crane's emotional range is rather limited. Billy Bob Thornton plays Crane as merely an observer, not taking part in his own life-leading the audience to question if the character is just invisible or a sociopath. The performance is fascinating because Thornton keeps the audience questioning Crane's motivations and if the character even has an inner life.

The Man Who Wasn't There was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Picture and Billy Bob Thornton was nominated for a Best Actor award. Joel and Ethan Coen also took home a Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival last year and were nominated for an Academy Award for best screenplay. This film is highly recommended, particularly for fans of old film noir or the Coen brothers.

Supplemental information for this article was derived from the following websites: www.imdb.com, www.movies.com, and www.entertainmentweekly.com.

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