The Man Who Wasn't There

[Beau]

This is a movie made in 2001 by the Coen Brothers set in post World War II in California, shot in black and white and with a film noir feel. I recently watched it for the first time, as it was one of the few movies made by them that I haven't watched. I'd recommend it to everyone on this forum. The IMDB tag-line states, "The last thing on his mind is murder." That is a really apt description of the main character, played by Billy Bob Thornton. It hardly seems like anything is on his mind the entire movie, and he is so mechanical that the idea that "he wasn't there" perfectly fits him. Being a Coen Bros. film, of course a large sum of money plays a large role in the plot, but even that isn't what motivates Thornton's character. To me, he just looked bored.

I'm don't know if the Coen Bros. set out to create the perfect caricature of an OP, but it really seems like that is what they did. His wife, played by the always great Francis McDormand, seems like the garden variety psychopath to me. And then there is the strange addition of UFO's to the story. For those of you who have seen this, I would love to hear your theories on that. It seemed to strange at first and their is some UFO symbolism as well in the film. I thought about what it all meant for a day or two afterward, and the beauty of the film is that it makes you think. Is it possible that they were trying to convey that OPs/psychopaths are programmed by aliens? One can see the connection, but it's certainly not explicit. Again, I'd be curious to read others' thoughts on that one, if any of ya'll noticed it.

Overall, I would put in very high on the best of Coen Bros. films. Thornton plays the role perfectly IMO. The supporting cast is superb, and the production and cinematography is top notch.

More detals here - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243133/

 

[Windmill knight]

And then there is the strange addition of UFO's to the story. For those of you who have seen this, I would love to hear your theories on that. It seemed to strange at first and their is some UFO symbolism as well in the film. I thought about what it all meant for a day or two afterward, and the beauty of the film is that it makes you think.

I watched it a few months ago. Yes, I was quite surprised by the UFO thing and I thought to myself, "are they actually suggesting what I think they are suggesting??" (i.e. that aliens are behind these types). But like you say, it didn't seem very explicit at all, more like an artistic bizarre addition to the movie. In the end I was left with the impression that the Coens didn't quite know themselves why they added that to the mix. Something like 'divine inspiration', perhaps?

Something else that got me thinking was if the main character was a psychopath, but I didn't think so - he seemed just empty, or at least without a functioning emotional center. Although some details of the movie escape me now (it's late here and I'm tired), he didn't seem to have the predatorial voracity of a psychopath, the way I remember it.

Overall great movie, like most of the Coen's.

 

[Beau]

Having thought about it more, my feeling is that Thornton's character Ed Crane resembles a psychopath much more than an OP. He is completely unaffected by committing murder and by his own, fully realized, impending death. Having re-read the OP thread, I think that I probably just lost sight of things when trying to figure out this movie and the intentions of the writers. If he's not a psychopath, he certainly fits the bill of Mouravieff's chimera.

 

[Approaching Infinity]

Having thought about it more, my feeling is that Thornton's character Ed Crane resembles a psychopath much more than an OP. He is completely unaffected by committing murder and by his own, fully realized, impending death. Having re-read the OP thread, I think that I probably just lost sight of things when trying to figure out this movie and the intentions of the writer's. If he's not a psychopath, he certainly fits the bill of Mouravieff's chimera.

Yeah, while he lacks any depth of emotion, he doesn't seem to have the sadistic drive of a real psychopath. He's more schizoid, in that sense, but I'm not sure he's that, either. Chimera describes it best, methinks.

 

[hnd]

I'm don't know if the Coen Bros. set out to create the perfect caricature of an OP, but it really seems like that is what they did. His wife, played by the always great Francis McDormand, seems like the garden variety psychopath to me. And then there is the strange addition of UFO's to the story. For those of you who have seen this, I would love to hear your theories on that. It seemed to strange at first and their is some UFO symbolism as well in the film. I thought about what it all meant for a day or two afterward, and the beauty of the film is that it makes you think. Is it possible that they were trying to convey that OPs/psychopaths are programmed by aliens? One can see the connection, but it's certainly not explicit. Again, I'd be curious to read others' thoughts on that one, if any of ya'll noticed it.

I have no idea about Coen brothers’ interest in UFOs, but it is possible that the symbolism was used only for artistic purposes. The story takes place in 1950’s (the term UFO was coined in 1952) and like all the details from that period such as the costumes, settings and props, UFOs may just be another detail giving the feeling of that period. It is possible that the reference to UFOs may be for the same reason for reference to dry cleaning. Also, in neo noir movies the hero, or for a better term, the antihero finds himself in trouble because of some kind of nihilistic moral values, and they are usually described as alienated.So, the symbol may be used to emphasize this alienation. Still, one of the scenes with UFO reference, when you follow it by Ed’s thoughts on life, is really interesting :

………………..Spoiler……………….

PRISON HALLWAY

Ed, alone, walks down the hallway. The pulsing treble hum is
louder.

ED (V.O.)
...Well, it's like pulling away from
the maze. While you're in the maze
you go through willy-nilly, turning
where you think you have to turn,
banging into dead ends, one thing
after another...

PRISON YARD

Ed emerges into the empty prison yard ringed by high stone
walls. A hard spotlight shines down from above. Ed squints
into it.

ED (V.O.)
...But get some distance on it, and
all those twists and turns, why,
they're the shape of your life. It's
hard to explain...

The spotlight is from a hovering flying saucer. We see its
revolving underside and, as it irregularly cants, a bit of
its top bubble.

After spinning briefly, it tips and flies away, carrying the
tremolo hum with it.

ED (V.O.)
...But seeing it whole gives you
some peace.

Ed turns and re-enters the prison.

………………..Spoiler……………….

He is in a prison, trying to understand the maze and its pattern and as he does so, a flying saucer is spinning around.

 

[Rabelais]

Laura commented on this film, a few years back, with regard to the pronounced pathology of the main character. It is mentioned in passing here:

http://www.cassiopaea.org/cass/organic_portals.htm

And here:

http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=852.0

I cannot find the original discussion. Perhaps it was in the old Cass Yahoo groups discussions.

 

[hnd]

Thanks for reminding,he really seems to lack higher emotional center, but he may as well be a victim of a psychopath. BTW, Birdy, the little girl playing the piano, may remind one the OP characteristics,too,OSIT.

.........spoiler......

When Ed takes her to a French piano teacher, Carcanogues, to evaluate her talent. The teacher's response is interesting:

ED
Did she make mistakes?

CARCANOGUES
Mistake, no, it says E-flat, she
plays E-flat. Ping-ping. Hit the
right note, always. Very proper.

ED
I don't understand, no mistakes,
she's just a kid--I thought you taught
the, uh, the--

CARCANOGUES
Ah, but that is just what I cannot
teach. I cannot teach her to have a
soul. Look, monsieur, play the piano,
is not about the fingers. *Done*
with the fingers, yes. But the music,
she is inside. Inside, monsieur...