The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers Review Formula = (Oceans Eleven + O Brother Where Art Thou)2 + Big Momma's House
The Ladykillers is the latest from a pair of movie making favorites, Ethan and Joel Coen (Fargo, The Big Lebowski). Adapted from the 1955 Alec Guinness movie of the same name, The Ladykillers is the story of five would be thieves and the woman who unknowingly houses their plot.
Ordinarily, Box Office Talk has a very low expectation out of remakes and sequels, as does the entire movie watching world. But The Ladykillers is different for three reasons.
#1: This is the Coen brothers. Prepare to be amazed.
#2: The original Ladykillers is so old that it's likely forgotten in the minds of fans, if it was ever on those minds at all.
#3: It stars Tom Hanks in an un-Hanks-like role which is quite satisfying.
Hanks, who looks a little like the KFC Colonel in The Ladykillers, leads the criminal crew to rob the counting room of a floating casino by tunneling from the basement of one unwitting accomplice, Mrs. Munson. Each of his four cohorts has their own specialty which makes them useful to the job, much like another famous remake, Oceans Eleven. The problem is that to fool Mrs. Munson, they must cover their tunneling actions by faking to practice church choir music.
Hopefully, Tom Hanks will bring The Ladykillers some success at the box office, as the movie surely deserves it.
The Ladykillers Review, Trailer & Formula
Starring: Tom Hanks, Marlon Wayans, Irma P. Hall, Ryan Hurst
Directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Release Date: 3/26/2004
MPAA Rating: R
See The Ladykillers trailer High | Low
This entry is filed in Comedy, Drama.« Jersey Girl | Never Die Alone »
I was disappointed with this movie. A good Cohen Bros movie sucks you into a different world through great characters and an interesting plot. Tom Hanks' character's mad giggle seemed forced, and the other "quirky" bits, like irritible bowel syndrome, seemed tacked-on and not relevent. The whole film had a rather flat feeling about it, as though the directors had started with gusto, but gotten sick of the story and tried to finish it as quickly as possible.
Posted by: at August 26, 2004 06:42 PM
