The Man Who Wasn't There

Anthony Reyes5 said:I only got one tape. I was looking for the black and white version, but no luck...

....When people borrow this movie, you can really tell who knows their stuff. Seriously, 9 out of 10 people ask why there are two versions, and when I explain one is B&W and the other is color, they just grab the color one and go, "No way am I watching a black and white movie."🙂 Even when I try to point out that the film was originally shot in B&W two years ago—that the whole vibe is totally different when you see it in monochrome—it just goes in one ear and out the other. To them, color is color, right?🙂

...the whole movie just gave me major Camus and Meursault vibes...

Yeah, I was thinking about Camus too while watching this...

One of the most intense moments is when he hires that new barber guy—the one who won't shut up. He closes up the shop, the kid is rambling on about some chicken, and Thornton just goes: "For all I know, he talked to himself on the way home." 🙂

Then, when he's heading back, everyone is moving in the opposite direction, Moonlight Sonata is playing, he's got a bad taste in his mouth... "It was like I was a ghost walking down the street..."

One of the best neo-noirs out there. That black-and-white cinematography is a perfect match for the story and the overall vibe. Thornton delivers a convincing performance.

Does this DVD from the New York Times come with the black-and-white version or is it in color?

The black-and-white cut, featuring those extra scenes where Frances McDormand basically talks you out of even wanting to see the color version. 🙂

The movie is brutal, though I wouldn't quite go so far as to call it Coen's best work... personally, I still have a soft spot for The Big Lebowski... just my subjective take, of course...

Personally, my favorite film is one by the Coen brothers. I’ve probably seen it three or four times now. Perhaps I find it a little too easy to lose myself in their existential dilemmas.

😬

And we shouldn't forget Fargo... What an absolute trip that movie was! I found myself laughing my head off the entire time, only to have it suddenly hit me that those events could actually happen in real life. Hotdamn!

wiredotter79 said:One shouldn't forget Fargo either... what an absolute trip! I found myself laughing through the whole thing, only to be hit by the sudden realization that this actually happened. Hotdamn!

Actually, that isn't quite right. The Coen brothers admitted later on that the entire story was purely fictional.

The black-and-white version is hands down superior! 😉 Honestly, I’m completely stumped as to why they even bothered releasing a color version in the first place. Don't get me wrong, the movie is an absolute masterpiece... for the most part, anyway. I wouldn't go so far as to call it boring, but there are definitely moments where the pacing feels just a little bit hollow... 😉

Nah - the black and white version is obviously superior to the color one.. 🙂

Black and white is just superior—this movie is an absolute masterpiece! 🙏

Black and white version.

Now, about the movie:
Easily the best thing I’ve watched in the last two years. It hits all the right notes—aside from that ridiculous bit with the aliens—and B.B. Thornton absolutely deserves an Oscar for that performance.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Ed Crane; honestly, he's the kind of guy I'd love to be.
That ending was masterful. I was actually rooting for him to pull it off, but the way it wrapped up really provided the perfect punctuation mark for the whole story.

10/10.

An excellent film. It slows down in a way reminiscent of the Coen brothers at times, but it is exceptionally well-constructed overall. Billy Bob delivers his usual stellar performance.

@hollowsailor19/">@@hollowsailor19 - quite a few people haven't seen this yet and will likely watch it after reading this thread, so you might want to hold off on your thoughts regarding the ending until then.😉

I’ve put together a brief commentary exploring why *O Brother, Where art thou?* remains such a vital piece of cinema. If you have a moment to spare, I’d appreciate you taking a look. It’s a quick watch—nothing more than five minutes.

http://youtu.be/165PJP2NaSU

I watched the black-and-white version, just as intended. Twice.

Cheers.

An absolute masterpiece...