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The Man Who Wasn't There

  • 2001
  • R
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
121K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,560
730
Frances McDormand, Billy Bob Thornton, and James Gandolfini in The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Theatrical Trailer from USA Films
Play trailer1:36
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Period DramaPsychological DramaCrimeDrama

A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss and lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong.A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss and lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong.A laconic, chain-smoking barber blackmails his wife's boss and lover for money to invest in dry cleaning, but his plan goes terribly wrong.

  • Directors
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen
  • Writers
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen
  • Stars
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Frances McDormand
    • Michael Badalucco
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    121K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,560
    730
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Stars
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Frances McDormand
      • Michael Badalucco
    • 507User reviews
    • 183Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 25 wins & 43 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Man Who Wasn't There
    Trailer 1:36
    The Man Who Wasn't There
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers

    Photos109

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 104
    View Poster

    Top Cast65

    Billy Bob Thornton
    Billy Bob Thornton
    • Ed Crane
    Frances McDormand
    Frances McDormand
    • Doris Crane
    Michael Badalucco
    Michael Badalucco
    • Frank
    James Gandolfini
    James Gandolfini
    • Big Dave Brewster
    Katherine Borowitz
    Katherine Borowitz
    • Ann Nirdlinger Brewster
    Jon Polito
    Jon Polito
    • Creighton Tolliver
    Scarlett Johansson
    Scarlett Johansson
    • Birdy Abundas
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Walter Abundas
    Tony Shalhoub
    Tony Shalhoub
    • Freddy Riedenschneider
    Christopher Kriesa
    Christopher Kriesa
    • Officer Persky
    Brian Haley
    Brian Haley
    • Officer Krebs
    Jack McGee
    Jack McGee
    • P.I. Burns
    Gregg Binkley
    Gregg Binkley
    • New Man
    Alan Fudge
    Alan Fudge
    • Dr. Diedrickson
    Lilyan Chauvin
    Lilyan Chauvin
    • Medium
    Ana-Sofia Mastroianna
    Ana-Sofia Mastroianna
    • Carcanogues
    Ted Rooney
    Ted Rooney
    • Bingo Caller
    Abraham Benrubi
    Abraham Benrubi
    • Party Man
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews507

    7.5121.2K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Man Who Wasn't There' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Joel Coen and Ethan Coen came up with the story while working on The Hudsucker Proxy (1994). While filming the scene in the barbershop, the Coens saw a prop poster of 1940s haircuts and began developing a story about the barber who cut the hair in the poster.
    • Goofs
      Birdy Abundas says that Ludwig van Beethoven "was deaf when he wrote this. [...] He never actually heard it", referring to his Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, "Pathetique". When Beethoven composed this specific Sonata in 1798, he wasn't deaf. He already had some auditory troubles but he became totally deaf later, around 1815. During the very beginning of the 19th century he was still able to play public concerts and to hear the pieces he was composing.
    • Quotes
      • Reidenschneider: They got this guy, in Germany. Fritz Something-or-other. Or is it? Maybe it's Werner. Anyway, he's got this theory, you wanna test something, you know, scientifically - how the planets go round the sun, what sunspots are made of, why the water comes out of the tap - well, you gotta look at it. But sometimes you look at it, your looking changes it. Ya can't know the reality of what happened, or what would've happened if you hadn't-a stuck in your own goddamn schnozz. So there is no "what happened"? Not in any sense that we can grasp, with our puny minds. Because our minds... our minds get in the way. Looking at something changes it. They call it the "Uncertainty Principle". Sure, it sounds screwy, but even Einstein says the guy's on to something.
    • Crazy credits
      The opening titles cast shadows on the wall as if they are real.
    • Alternate versions
      Though originally intended to be released in black and white, the movie was originally shot in color. Some countries released the movie in color (e.g. Japan) for marketing reasons. Both versions are released on home media.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: What's the Worst That Could Happen?/Pearl Harbor/The Anniversary Party/Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 (Pathetique)
      (1799)
      Written by Ludwig van Beethoven

    Top picks

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    FAQ1

    • What is the meaning of Freddy Riedenschneider's "uncertainty principle" and how Dave Brewster's military record would serve as a solid defense in trial?

    Details

    • Release date
      • November 16, 2001 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • French
    • Also known as
      • El hombre que nunca estuvo
    • Filming locations
      • Plaza Square - Orange, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Good Machine
      • Gramercy Pictures (I)
      • Mike Zoss Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,504,257
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $664,404
      • Nov 4, 2001
    • Gross worldwide
      • $18,918,721
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 56m(116 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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