The Man Who Wasn't There

"The last thing on his mind is murder."

Nov 16 2001 R 1h 56m
Crime, Drama

A tale of murder, crime and punishment set in the summer of 1949. Ed Crane, a barber in a small California town, is dissatisfied with his life, but his wife Doris' infidelity and a mysterious opportunity presents him with a chance to change it.

Plot

1949, Santa Rosa, California. A laconic, chain-smoking barber with fallen arches tells a story of a man trying to escape a humdrum life. It's a tale of suspected adultery, blackmail, foul play, death, Sacramento city slickers, racial slurs, invented war heroics, shaved legs, a gamine piano player, aliens, and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Ed Crane cuts hair in his in-law's shop; his wife drinks and may be having an affair with her boss, Big Dave, who has $10,000 to invest in a second department store. Ed gets wind of a chance to make money in dry cleaning. Blackmail and investment are his opportunity to be more than a man no one notices. Settle in the chair and listen.

Written by

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Directed by

Joel Coen

Production Countries

United States of America, United Kingdom

Production Companies

Working Title Films, Mike Zoss Productions, Gramercy Pictures, Good Machine, The KL Line

Languages

Italiano, Français, English

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 25 wins & 43 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
119,928
Average Rating
7.5 out of 10
Metascore
73
Popularity
NA