Let's say it's a dark comedy. Things that happens in a sociopathic, sometimes psychopathic, society. Frances is more funny than I thought. Now I know why she often looks like shes about to laugh uncontrollably. Billy is hilarious.

A film that never lets you know where it's headed. The Coen Brothers set a tone of dark poetry, with the deep voice of narrator Billy Bob Thornton and a sonata by Bethoven guiding you through the fog of this man's life. A fog indeed, to himself and to others. He exists mainly in his mind, he is like a ghost. The movie takes us into this man's thoughts, a very silent man, polite, good looking, a simple man with no great intentions. But a writer, a poet. In his mind where the movie is set. Sometimes he does things, but it seems to be more in order to see what will happen. Not so much that he might care what will happen, but just to see. Just so that he can think about it. Rather than nothing. He doesn't seem particularly bored. He doesn't seem particularly sad. But he does seem to be always feeling. Things go badly, because he did something bad, and then he deals with the consequences and that's it, things kinda happen.

In this film, a crime is committed by the most unsuspecting individual: the barber. I already knew the Coen brothers' taste for black humor, evident in "Fargo", which was their first movie I watched. In this film, the humorous and almost sarcastic tone is still present, although its sometimes subtle and mixed with social criticism. Ed wasn't the "man who was not there" because he was a barber, but because society never gave him importance or noticed his existence. His profession ends up becoming a symbol of this. The story is set in the 1950s, so it plays with the ideas and mentality of the time, especially the exaggerated belief in extraterrestrials, just as it makes little allusions to the cinematic aesthetics of that era (B movies, sci-fi, cinema noir). Cinematography helped a lot at this point, with an elegant black and white, balanced tones and nice contrast.Regarding the actors, Billy Bob Thornton is to be congratulated because he has disengaged himself in this challenge with praises. Ed is one of a few people with few sayings and an unimpressive attitude, and the actor's performance, ranging from slightly funny to slightly scary, was very good, set in a gigantic physical and expressive self-control. On the opposite side is Michael Badalucco, in a histrionic and talkative character, where the actor was excellent. Frances McDormand was also fine, especially when she split the screen with Billy Bob, and James Gandolfini did what was expected of him. Scarlett Johansson did quite well in a character who is only innocent in appearance. Finally, a note of appreciation for the soundtrack, where classic works for piano are abundant.

Coen brothers... This movie so much reminds me of No Country For Old Men which is another movie of these two brothers. I found out that are the same directors and writers of these movies after watching No Country For Old Men and i just assumed that maybe are the same directors and i get it. They have the same feeling, emotions and very good psychological side of the story. In both of the movies characters don't say too much words, but in The Man Who Wasn't There, Ed Crane had too many internal monologues, which i think it's good. I love that. Billy Bob Thornton was brilliant in this movie. His voice has that dramatic feeling and destroys any other atmosphere. In that moments you are focused only to his voice.Movie is black and white, which is wonderful because the story takes in the older times. That's another factor who give us mysterious and dramatic atmosphere.I like the cinematography and actors very much. The cinematographer is Roger Deakins who rules this job in every movie he doing. Of other actors, i love Tony Shalhoub. He surprise me in every role he played. He could be also very good for character like Ed Crane. He discover that to us in TV Series Monk. Other actors are great also, except Scarlett Johansson. I don't like her. She didn't surprise me in any movie where she played. She is just very attractive, and that's all.Story is a little simply. There's missing something. Something that people will not expected. You expecting the death of Ed Crane far from the end. And it's like in No Country For Old Men, just happens something you expected, and that's the end. But, all others stuffs which adorn the whole movie are great and if you have time, don't miss that chance to watch it.