Review of The Ladykillers (2004) by Jesse T — 21 Aug 2011
"The Ladykillers" is a disappointing effort from filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen. The Coen Brothers are my personal favourite directors working today and this is the only film of theirs I hadn't seen [as of yesterday].
I always heard bad things about it so I never rushed to see it. However, I wanted to complete their filmography, so last night I sat down and watched it. It wasn't bad by any means; it was an average movie, but compared to the calibre of excellence the Coens usually display, this fell absolutely flat.
Tom Hanks is fine as Goldthwait Dorr, but he's certainly no Alec Guinness [who originated the role in the 1955 film]. The supporting cast is great, but the stand out is easily Irma P. Hall as the unsuspecting old lady whose house is shelter for the criminals' master plan.
The film has some great scenes and witty dialogue, but most of it is uneven and lacks cohesion. It's a failure in terms of a Coen Brothers picture, but it's still better than most comedy films being made today.
At least they smartened up and have since only made excellent films. This one is forgettable, but it's a road you have to take when trying to watch all the films the Coen Brothers have made. (C+).
This review of The Ladykillers (2004) was written by Jesse T on 21 Aug 2011.
The Ladykillers has generally received mixed reviews.
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