The Ladykillers

Plot Summary

Goldthwait Higginson Dorr (Tom Hanks) arrives at the door of Mrs. Munson (Irma P. Hall) looking for a room to rent. Elderly Mrs. Munson is a no-nonsense, straight talking, god-fearing woman. Her visitor on-the-other-hand has airs and graces, and lots of "fancy talk". He tells her that he is a professor with an interest in classical music and shows particular interest in her cellar which he says will be the perfect place to practice his music with his friends. Neither the professor nor his motley crew are interested in music. Instead, Mrs. Munson's cellar is the perfect place for the gang to carry out their crooked plan which is to tunnel their way, from the cellar, to the vault of a nearby casino.

Review

In most respects this movie is very different to the original 1950's classic comedy. The original had an old-fashioned charm and wit that is sadly missing in this heavy-handed version. There are some genuinely funny parts but it is very uneven with some of the comedy coming from astute dialogue and some unfortunately relying on a tirade of expletives. The story too is unbalanced and the momentum jerky.

It is actually hard to get involved in this movie and this may be due to the fact that the movie concentrates on quirky characters that are not particularly likeable. I found myself watching somewhat disinterestedly and I didn't really care what happened to any of the characters.

Tom Hanks plays the main character Goldthwait Higginson Dorr who portrays himself as a cultured, educated southern gentleman. He is the leader, and brains, of the inept gang of crooks that include Gawain MacSam (Marlon Wayans), Garth Pancake (J.K. Simmons), The General (Tzi Ma) and Lump (Ryan Hurst). The Dorr character is so exaggerated that he becomes an annoying caricature.

The most likeable character is Mrs. Munson who is played by Irma P. Hall. She unwittingly lets Dorr and his gang into her home but it isn't long before her suspicions are realised and she discovers that there's more than music practice going on in her cellar.

Bottom Line: Some funny moments but his is an uneven, heavy handed remake of a movie that got it right.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2004.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:  TOM HANKS: Cast Away,  Catch Me If You Can, The Green Mile, Road To Perdition, The Terminal.  IRMA P. HALL: Collateral.  JOEL COEN:  Intolerable Cruelty.

Genre: Comedy

Certificate: 15's

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

~ Main Cast ~

Tom Hanks

Irma P. Hall

Marlon Wayans

J.K.Simmons

Tzi Ma

Ryan Hurst

RATING

ONLY IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO