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"Don't You Be Using
Foul Language On My Web
Site!" |
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Directed by Joel & Ethan
Coen - Written by Joel &
Ethan Coen, William Rose
Starring Tom Hanks, Irma
P. Hall, Marlon Wayans,
Stephen Root
Distributed by Buena
Vista - 2004 - 104mins -
Rated R |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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B- |
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The greatest criminal minds of all-time have finally met their match. |
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The
latest Coen Brother's film "The Ladykillers" is a challenging film to
review. I contemplated its rating all day...vacillating pretty much in
the "B" range. It is not that I didn't enjoy this film...quite the
contrary, I did enjoy this film. However, this film didn't work for me
on a few levels and this lack of connection and consistency have
stayed on my mind more than the parts of the film I enjoy.
Tom Hanks, who is pretty much one of the most dependable actors around
these days, does what he can to make this character his own. As
Professor G.H. Dorr, Hanks has added multiple unique touches from his
well noted VERY unique vocalization to his teeth to the simple
physical presentation of the character. I admire, greatly, an actor
who goes out on a limb with his character...I really do. AND, to his
credit he did generally make me forget he was Tom Hanks. Yet, the
character also had SOOOOO many quirks that it almost became more
noticeable and a distraction from the film itself. In the original
version of this film, Alec Guiness did a marvelous job with this
character...his was quirky, but there was greater subtlety to his
character. There were varying shades of the Professor...Hanks,
generally, doesn't give the varying shades that would have added so
much to his character.
What does work better here is the performance of Irma P. Hall...who
takes away all the obnoxious, shrillness from the original film and
gives us a real, believable and funny character to go with throughout
the film. Hall, who captured the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival
for this performance, died earlier this year...very sad...she was the
jewel of this film.
Another performance in the film that bothered me considerably was that
of Marlon Wayans...One of the beautiful trademarks of a Coen Brothers'
film is that of subtlety...humor based in real life and within the
daily context of a character...Wayans' character was far from subtle
and was downright obnoxious. I felt like I was in "Scary Movie"
watching him each time he took a scene. In particular, the scene in
the Waffle Hut bothered me considerably...while I have no problem with
the use of the "F" word...it was overdone in this scene...what could
have been a subtle, entertaining scene turned into an obnoxious,
over-the-top scene that lacked any of the Coen signature touches.
Other characters worked on varying levels...but, once again...not to
the level of the original film. Performers such as JK Simmons, Tzi Ma,
Ryan Hurst and Diane Delano seemed mostly caricatures...along with the
remarkably subdued performance of George Wallace and Stephen Root.
As in all Coen films, the music generally worked well...they have a
knack for that...and I generally enjoyed the production design.
The 2004 version of "The Ladykillers" is an entertaining film, but
definitely not the best film to come from the Coen Brothers. It has
some unique touches...some work, some don't. But, if you're really
into this storyline I'd suggest you pick up the 1955 original version
of this film with a remarkable performance by Alec Guiness and Peter
Sellers. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
Email Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
Mildly
amusing, but hardly a must-see.
Jacob Hall's
Comment
I'm not saying that "The Ladykillers" is a
perfect movie. It gets off to a slow start, and
at the beginning uses easy, broad jokes like
plain insults and mouth to mouth resuscitation
with a dog. When the film finds it's step,
though, it soars. The humor is pitch dark, and,
in addition to the marvelous Coen dialogue,
contains simply brilliant slapstick comedy. Not
everyone will like this. You have to be willing
to except death as an instrument of comedy. It
can often be mean-spirited, but you won't feel
guilty about laughing later become the
resolution makes up for it. On a last note, the
film also contains what I am sure will be one of
the most memorable sets of all time: a bridge
that the Coens use often to great effect.
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