Friday, 31 December 2021

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001 Joel & Ethan Coen)

Brilliantly plotted film noir somehow seems to be running at 50% speed, partly attributable to Billy Bob Thornton's overly deadpan performance and piano music; pretty much as reviewed last time 25/10/09 'Combination of pacing, Thornton's voice and piano music quite sleep-inducing. Not as mad as I remembered.' Somehow brilliant and dull at the same time - quite an achievement. The Coen Brothers' only black-and-white film.

With Frances MacDormand, Michael Badalucco, James Gandolfini, Katherine Borowitz, Jon Polito, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Jenkins, Tony Shaloub.

I  had also commented 'The Coens' Double Indemnity (sure someone's called Diedrickson)?' There is.

Roger Deakins' eye-watering and BAFTA-winning cinematography adds to the sense of perversion.






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