10 Best Black & White Films Of The 21st Century (So Far)

The Coen Brothers often explore self-destructive behavior in their films, and that is exactly what they do in The Man Wasn't There. The movie stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Crane, a man who works as a barber and lives in California.

One day, a customer comes into the shop looking for investors for a new technology, and Ed decides to pitch in with money he gathers via blackmail. Things start to crumble from there, as trusting relationships disintegrate, leading to lethal outcomes.

Everything unfolds in shocking fashion and is expertly told by Joel and Ethan Coen. They are content to take their time, slowly flowing from scene to scene and moment to moment. The brothers' choice, along with director of photography Roger Deakins, to film in black and white helped to set the tone for the movie. It takes place in the late 1940s, so the images reflect that, giving the motion picture an authentic quality and a beautiful look. Deakins earned an Oscar nomination for his work.