Review of The Ladykillers (2004) by Clara I — 10 Jul 2008
The Coen Brothers remake the 1955 Ealing Comedy, but something's lost in translation. Set in the Deep South, this has Professor Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr Ph.D (Tom Hanks, looking like a cross between Col.
Sanders and Frank Zappa), coming to the door...(read more) of Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall), enquiring about a room to let, and also using the basement for musical rehearsals. But, it's all a cover for an elaborate crime, which involves using the basement to tunnel into the vault of a nearby riverboat casino.
Dorr's team includes explosives expert Garth Pancake (J.K. Simmons), tunnelling expert The General (Tzi Ma), inside man Gawain MacSam (Marlon Wayans) and doofus Lump Hudson (Ryan Hurst). It all seems to be going to plan, but the only thing they didn't count on is Mrs.
Munson. It's a good film, but the Coen's could have done so much better with the material, perfect as it is for them, but there's too much focus on racial issues, but it's Hanks' splendidly devilish performance that keeps the film from falling apart.
This review of The Ladykillers (2004) was written by Clara I on 10 Jul 2008.
The Ladykillers has generally received mixed reviews.
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