Baffled by "Man Who Wasn't There" (spoilers) - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

redshifter · 05-20-2002, 08:30 PM

the coen bros. are two of my favorite film makers, so i really enjoyed m.w.w.t. i'm usually pretty good about decrypting movie symbolism, but i am baffled by the ufos in this film. i listened to the yack track on the dvd (which was more amusing than the film), but i still could not connect the ufo with ed the barber's story. what was the ufo's meaning in the film? was it random, a red herring, or did it have some deeper meaning, like the bowling/sex symbolism in "the big lebowski"?

SolidSnakeASS · 05-20-2002, 10:10 PM

I think it was just a reference to the 1950s and the whole UFO craze. More directly you could say it is referencing Roswell.

I would say that figuratively it respresents the exact type of escape Ed Crane wants, a easy way out that never comes.

redshifter · 05-20-2002, 10:47 PM

thanks, ssa

i would agree on your escapism theory, if it wasn't for that ed never seems to want to escape, but rather accepts his fate. he accepts his fate with a little "ed nod" and never seems to really try to get out of his jam. even when he sees the ufo at the end he just nods and walks back to his cell.

as to the roswell thing, well, i just don't see the connection to ed, unless he himself is an alien (he sure acts like one).

nirdlinger was abducted by aliens according to his wife, perhaps the ufo came back to see who killed their test subject? the coens said the ending of the film (in the death chamber) was supposed to look like ed was on the mother ship. maybe this is death as the ultimate escape? the ufo represents death?

i would be reading too much into this ufo thing if it was any other filmaker besides the coens.

lowriderboy · 05-21-2002, 12:22 AM

Haven't seen it, so can someone please be kind enought to let me in on what it is about and if it is a recommended film?? I see alot of you here have it in your collections, so I just want to know if a blind purchase of it would be a wise choice??!!

black__omega · 05-21-2002, 01:05 AM

Yeah. it's a great little film. I bought it on a blind purchase (picked up used for about $12) and really enjoyed it. As for describing it or summing it up. I don't know if I can do that so I'll leave that to someone else.

It's worth watching if for nothing else the beautiful black and white photography.

SolidSnakeASS · 05-21-2002, 10:22 PM

Ok, maybe 'wants' is a bad word for it, more like the escape presents itself and he just returns to his punishment.

05-20-2002, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
redshifter Actor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: the emerald city	Baffled by "Man Who Wasn't There" (spoilers) the coen bros. are two of my favorite film makers, so i really enjoyed m.w.w.t. i'm usually pretty good about decrypting movie symbolism, but i am baffled by the ufos in this film. i listened to the yack track on the dvd (which was more amusing than the film), but i still could not connect the ufo with ed the barber's story. what was the ufo's meaning in the film? was it random, a red herring, or did it have some deeper meaning, like the bowling/sex symbolism in "the big lebowski"? __________________ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Did you ever hear of "The Seattle Seven"? That was me... and six other guys.

05-20-2002, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
redshifter Actor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: the emerald city	thanks, ssa i would agree on your escapism theory, if it wasn't for that ed never seems to want to escape, but rather accepts his fate. he accepts his fate with a little "ed nod" and never seems to really try to get out of his jam. even when he sees the ufo at the end he just nods and walks back to his cell. as to the roswell thing, well, i just don't see the connection to ed, unless he himself is an alien (he sure acts like one). nirdlinger was abducted by aliens according to his wife, perhaps the ufo came back to see who killed their test subject? the coens said the ending of the film (in the death chamber) was supposed to look like ed was on the mother ship. maybe this is death as the ultimate escape? the ufo represents death? i would be reading too much into this ufo thing if it was any other filmaker besides the coens. __________________ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Did you ever hear of "The Seattle Seven"? That was me... and six other guys.

05-21-2002, 12:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
lowriderboy Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Miami, FL	Haven't seen it, so can someone please be kind enought to let me in on what it is about and if it is a recommended film?? I see alot of you here have it in your collections, so I just want to know if a blind purchase of it would be a wise choice??!! __________________ My DVD Collection The One and Only!!!

05-21-2002, 01:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
black__omega Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Harrisonburg, VA	Yeah. it's a great little film. I bought it on a blind purchase (picked up used for about $12) and really enjoyed it. As for describing it or summing it up. I don't know if I can do that so I'll leave that to someone else. It's worth watching if for nothing else the beautiful black and white photography. __________________ Black__Omega http://www.blackomega.org My DVD Collection

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05-20-2002, 10:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
SolidSnakeASS Actor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Winterpeg, Manitobaugh, Canada	I think it was just a reference to the 1950s and the whole UFO craze. More directly you could say it is referencing Roswell. I would say that figuratively it respresents the exact type of escape Ed Crane wants, a easy way out that never comes.

05-21-2002, 10:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
SolidSnakeASS Actor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Winterpeg, Manitobaugh, Canada	Ok, maybe 'wants' is a bad word for it, more like the escape presents itself and he just returns to his punishment.