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	In The Theaters I just saw it and boy does it...	318

The Ladykillers (2004)
	Topic by: ColonelKong Posted: March 27, 2004 - 6:32 PM PST Last Reply: June 2, 2004 - 11:01 AM PDT

author	topic: The Ladykillers (2004)
ColonelKong	post #1  on March 27, 2004 - 6:32 PM PST   Anyone else seen this yet? I caught it this afternoon, not a great Coen bros movie and rather lightweight, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I've never seen the original film (which I added to my queue), so I don't know how this remake compares. I prefer this film to Intolerable Cruelty, which I wasn't too fond of (but maybe I'll give it another chance sometime soon, the Coens recycled a gag from that film with less sucess this time around) but I'm still looking forward to the Coens going back to their more dramatic Blood Simple/Miller's Crossing/Barton Fink/Fargo/The Man Who Wasn't There more before too long (anyone heard what their next project is going to be? I haven't heard). Roger Deakins cinemtography and Dennis Gassner's production design were great as always, I liked all the performances, but my favorite character was probably Tzi Ma's Viet Cong General. I also liked Bruce Campbell's little cameo (when are the Coens going to give him a starring role in something?) In any case, I have a hard time disliking a movie with a main character who dresses like my avatar. :) Overall, I enjoyed The Ladykillers, but one of the Coens lesser efforts, and to me, it's just a nice little appetizer before Hellboy and Kill Bill Vol. 2 (I got to see the KBV2 teaser on the big screen for the first time).
underdog	post #2  on April 1, 2004 - 4:26 PM PST   I pretty much agree with everything you wrote. I had low expectations for it, actually, even though it was the Coens and had some good reviews... but enjoyed it. I honestly don't expect deep character development from them at this point, because that's never been one of their strong suits (although Barton Fink and even Raising Arizona may be exceptions). But I giggled quite often and thought it had a nice sense of Gothic Southern dark humor and atmosphere. It doesn't hold a candle to the original, no, but for what it is, quite likeably zany. I love many of the visual touches, and the mysterious General, and the guy with IBS, and the cat, and particularly, the gospel music. (That odd, short statured gospel choir director is indelibly etched in my memory...) I'd give it a 6 outta 10.
sinisterguffaw	post #3  on April 2, 2004 - 10:24 AM PST   As much as I love the coen bros, I'll think I'll be waiting for the DVD on this one. Plus, Tom Hanks' performances are always so "spit-shined," meaning the movies he's in and the acting he does always comes off so polished. Too polished. Road to Perdition was a slight departure, because he played a much more brooding character, but I'd really like to see him play a more flawed character. Something gritty. Or maybe not. Maybe I just want something to whine about.
DLeonard	post #4  on April 4, 2004 - 12:32 PM PDT   A disappointment for me. I'd have to say that it is most likely my least favorite Coen Bros. film. Certainly there were elements that I enjoyed like the choir and the cat and the dog wearing a gas mask and Tom Hanks hiding under the bed and the dead husband's portrait and most of all, the performance by Irma P. Hall. She's oddly grounded in reality while being completely surrounded by over the top caricature. I'm curious as to why the Coen's wanted to do this project. If I'm not mistaken it is the first time they have not worked with an original screenplay. O Brother was of course inspired by Homer, but still rather original. Also, looking at IMDB and there is mention that the Choir Director is played by Eddie Murphy!!!??? Is that true? I didn't recognize him at all.
ColonelKong	post #5  on April 4, 2004 - 6:20 PM PDT   > I'm curious as to why the Coen's wanted to do this project. If I'm not mistaken it is the first time they have not worked with an original screenplay. O Brother was of course inspired by Homer, but still rather original. > The Coens wrote the final draft of the script for Intolerable Cruelty, but that didn't start out as a Coen movie. As for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, didn't they admit that they've never actually read The Odyssey?
underdog	post #6  on April 5, 2004 - 10:40 AM PDT   > On April 4, 2004 - 12:32 PM PDT DLeonard wrote: > --------------------------------- > Also, looking at IMDB and there is mention that the Choir Director is played by Eddie Murphy!!!??? Is that true? I didn't recognize him at all. > --------------------------------- I was thinking, "that can't be!" For one thing, he looked shorter than that Eddie Murphy and there was something different about him. On the other hand... it sure does seem like one of Eddie's characters and there is some speculation on the 'web that it was an uncredited cameo. It probably isn't a great movie if an uncredited cameo by someone who may or may not have been Eddie Murphy sticks in our memory banks more than most of the rest of it... (but I still enjoyed it -- gave it a B-. But yeah, when will the Coens start writing their own scripts again.)
DEccleston	post #7  on June 2, 2004 - 11:01 AM PDT   It has all the elements for a film as good as or better than the original --- and then the F-WORD takes over. Too bad.