(rated R, 116 mins.)
Billy Bob Thornton does a spectacular job as Ed Crane a local barber in a small California town in 1949. He’s got a knack for noticing people’s hair-shapes. He’s got a mess being married to Doris (Frances McDormand) who spends her time in an affair with her boss Big Dave (James Gandolfini), the department store owner. When a chasing-venture-capital-risk arrives at the barber shop one day in the form of a noisy man with a bad toupee, Crane decides to take a chance that’s about to domino effect his entire life and plan. This is the movie to put Thornton over the top doing more for his career than “Slingblade” in a blackmail premise in black and white. His portrayal of the straight-laced never-break-from-character-sympathetic-underdog with cigarette always dangling from his chiseled lips is reminiscent of a forties style noir film, and a sophistication with razor-sharp coolness only the Coen Brothers can deliver. Thornton spends more time dragging that cigarette than speaking (except in voice over) yet manages to steal the film. This is McDormand’s first re-teaming with the Coen’s since their infamous “Fargo” that won her an Oscar this time tackling a social climbing socialite who delivers annoyance as acceptable. Skillfully and similar to their past films, the Coens show that greed destroys ambition but makes for a great movie that not only goes full circle, but then some. It should be noted that Tony Shalhoub’s performance as the quirky character Freddy, the attorney, is electric.
