The man who wasn't there(2001)

Director: Coen brothers

Billy Bob Thornton excels as a chain smoking barber who gets mixed up in a murder mystery in a small town called Santa Rosa circa 1949, as he tries to blackmail his wife's(Frances McDormand) boss(James Gandolfini). The entire film is shot in black and white and the camerawork is no less than exquisite. The Coen brothers uses light and shadow to wonderful effect in this film . The film is definitely slow, but the music, the tight script and the wonderful performances from all the leads as well as from a very young Scarlet Johansson succeeds to keep the viewer more than interested. The unforeseen climax of the film takes it to a completely different height. It transcends to a film about one's identity, sense of guilt and also about the redemption one seeks in his lifetime. This is as close to a perfect noir as the Coen Brothers will ever get. Yes, keeping in mind "Blood simple" and "No country for old men", "The man who wasn't there" will be my favorite Coen Brothers film. For a long time to come.