The Man Who Wasn't There

The Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 American neo-noir film directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen. It stars Billy Bob Thornton with Frances McDormand and Scarlett Johanson.

This film may be considered to be post modern due to its main character Ed Crane (Thornton) whose thoughts can be heard in a narrative style throughout the film as he narrates in first person. It is apparant that Ed finds it hard to interact with others surrounding him, even his wife, who he suspects is having an affair but primarily doesn't want to do anything about it. His calm overtone holds up until the end of the film, where Ed regrets his actions for the pain he caused to others. Crane is a somewhat unique individual who's lack of speech and communication towards his brother in law and all other people sets him apart from the rest yet his lack of emotion, even when his wife commited suicide, portrays something thats odd and different.

Joel Coen (co-director) admits that the film is "heavily influenced by" the work of James M. Cain, a writer best known for the novels Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice, with them too both using a narrative style and a sense of nostalgia.