The Man Who Wasn't There

This black and white film directed by Joel Coen in 2001, set in 1949 is a film with a very similar story line to that of the film i previously watched, 'Blood Simple'. Again this film is filled with murder and adultery right from the outset which directs the rest of the film. The main character, Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton) works as a barber in his brother in laws barber shop with aspirations to go into business with a client setting up a dry cleaning business. He suspects his wife, Doris Crane (Frances McDorman) is having an affair with their friend Big Dave (James Gandolfini). He then cunningly decides to get revenge by blackmailing him for ten thousand dollars. He gets his money and puts it straight into the dry cleaning business only to never hear from Creighton again as he was suspected to be the blackmailer. When Big Dave finally works out the blackmailer was actually Ed they begin fighting when Ed murders Dave. Accusations fly again when Dorris is arrested with the murder of Big Dave forcing Ed again to raise as much money as possible to hire the best solicitor to get her out. However it seems that she become slightly mentally insane and just before her hearing she commits suicide. While this is happening Ed also spends a lot of time at a friends house listing to a young talented girl play the piano. He becomes attached to this girl and decides she deserves the best chance at being able to play the piano professionally. The young girl, Birdy (Scarlett Johansson) gets the wrong impression from Ed and decides to repay him with sexual favours causing a rather comical car accident. This surprised me as the Coen Brothers have never been shy of creating dramatic and brutal scenes and this scene reminded me of something from a cartoon with spinning camera angles and a single hub cap rolling across the floor. The film ends when Ed is accused of murdering Creighton and faces the electric chair. I guess it could be considered unjust as he didn't actually commit the crime, but he did murder Dave therefore receiving the same punishment.

Similarly to many of their other films, this one is exploding with creative lighting techniques highlighting many formal elements making it inspiring. As for the film itself i did find it difficult to withhold my concentration as i felt it was very slow going throughout. The main character Ed said very little and when he spoke, he spoke very slowly whereas all the other male characters spoke extremely quickly making it hard to follow. I cant see my self wanting to watch the film again however there were parts that influenced me throughout.
13m- Ed is silhuetted to his wife who is in the bath making him seem less significant.
18.20m- Doris is sat in front of her vanity mirror being lit from the side by a window.
24m- Birdy playing the piano being lit by a lap by her side.
54m- Blindes move creating shadows over the face.
1:05m- The solicitor stands in some light within the prison and switches between being silhouetted and in the light beams.
1:18m- Completely alone of the sofa, creates a ghostly atmosphere.