The Man Who Wasn't There (2001 film) The Man Who Wasn't There (2001 film) The Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 British-American neo-noir crime film written, produced and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, James Gandolfini, and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, Richard Jenkins and Jon Polito. Joel Coen won the Best Director Award at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. Ethan Coen, Joel Coen's brother and co-director of the film, did not receive the Best Director Award as he was not credited as a director. This was the last film
Ethan Hardy brothers?’ It’s beautifully constructed and there’s a lot more to come!" Producer Oliver Kent later announced that Ethan would discover the adoption secret. He opined that the focus had been on Cal, but it was Ethan's turn "to take centre stage" with "fairly major" ramifications. Ethan discovers that Cal has been lying to him and he is adopted. Ethan is shocked to learn Emilie Groome (Carol Royle) is his mother and that she is suffering from Huntington’s disease which he may have inherited. When Emilie injures herself and Cal dislocates her shoulder looking after her, Ethan is forced to treat