Hanks shines in Coens’ remake of The Ladykillers
While it doesn’t reach the heights of inspired lunacy of their classic Raising Arizona, the Coen Brothers’ remake of The Ladykillers delivers plenty of chuckles, albeit of the darkest variety. The film takes some time to hit its stride, but ultimately delivers a wonderfully comic and morally just ending.
Ladykillers stars Tom Hanks as Professor G.H. Dorr, a simpering Southern
gentleman whose style of clothing, way of speech and sense of perverse gallantry
is at least 75 years out of date. Dorr devises a plan to tunnel into the offshore
counting room of a riverboat casino, assembles a crew to help in the heist,
and rents a room from Bible-thumping widow Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall). Somehow
Dorr and his gang of misfits succeed and are about to reap the fruit of their
labors only to be found out by their landlady.
Ladykillers boasts several memorable performances, but Hanks and Hall
provide the film’s spark. Hanks’ Dorr is as distinctive a creation as Johnny
Depp’s Captain Jack from Pirates of the Caribbean. A man truly in his
own world, Dorr deludes himself into thinking he’s above modern society, refusing
to see that it has actually left him behind. Marva, wonderfully brought to life
by Hall, is off in her own world. Unlike Dorr, she’s morally sound. That, in
the end, proves to be the key difference between salvation and damnation.
The chemistry Hanks and Hall generate and the potency of the Coens’ dark comedic
vision prove to be a winning combination. While so many modern comedies attempt
to generate their laughs with simplistic gross-out gags, Ladykillers
works hard to get them and succeeds. There’s no sense of thievery at play here
between the Coens and their audience — simply a comedy with well-earned laughs.
What other critics are saying. . .
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London [PG] Frankie Muniz is secret
agent Cody Banks on his second adventure. “Agent Cody Banks 2 may have
a difficult time appealing to young girls without Hilary Duff on board.” (Ed
Gonzalez, Slant magazine) ShowPlace West
Dawn of the Dead [R] Flesh-eating zombies are after a nurse (Sarah
Polley), a cop (Ving Rhames), and a few others who are holed up in a shopping
mall. “While I’ll definitely always prefer the original, the remake has earned
its place in the dead series.” (Joshua Tyler, Cinemablend.com) ShowPlace West,
ShowPlace East
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [R] After Joel (Jim Carrey) learns
that his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has the memories of their relationship
erased, he decides to do the same. Though his memories gradually fade, he starts
to remember how they first fell in love, and now he can’t get her out of his
mind. “A remarkable film that can coax a smile about making the same mistakes
in love and then sneak up and quietly break your heart.” (Peter Travers, Rolling
Stone) Parkway Pointe Art
50 First Dates [PG-13] Veterinarian Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) enjoys
dating women on vacation, but leaves his playboy life after he meets Lucy (Drew
Barrymore). Alas, Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss, forcing Henry to
woo her every day. “Entertaining? Forget about it. The film is less toxic than
most Sandler vehicles, but so is anthrax.” (Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star
Tribune) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Hidalgo [PG-13] The story of a Pony Express courier (Viggo Mortensen)
who travels to Saudi Arabia to compete with his horse, Hidalgo, in a dangerous
race for a massive contest prize. “Nothing kills my Viggo jones like a bad western
set in the Arabian Desert.’ (Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly) ShowPlace
West, ShowPlace East
Jersey Girl [PG-13] A music industry executive struggles to raise his
young daughter on his own. “[Ben] Affleck finally scores a hit with a co-star
who is nine years old.” (Victoria Alexander, Filmsinreview.com) Parkway Pointe
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King [PG-13] Final part of trilogy,
as hobbits Frodo and Sam journey to Mount Doom in Mordor. “As a model for how
to bring substance, authenticity and insight to the biggest of adventure yarns,
this trilogy will not soon, if ever, find its equal.” (Kenneth Turan, Los
Angeles Times) ShowPlace West
Never Die Alone [R] Turf war erupts after a drug kingpin returns home.
“There’s something refreshing about a pulp drama that turns on the notion that
redemption is a sucker’s fantasy.” (Mark Holcomb, Village Voice) Parkway
Pointe
The Passion of the Christ [R] Mel Gibson’s version of the last 12 hours
of Jesus Christ’s life. “The sacrifice Gibson’s Jesus makes is purely physical.
The violence to which he is subjected is portrayed to the point of being gratuitous
and manipulative.” (Chuck Koplinski, Illinois Times)ShowPlace
East,Parkway Pointe
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed [PG] The gang must contend with a
masked villain who unleashes scary monsters in an attempt to take over Coolsville.
“Doggone fun for kids (and stoners) everywhere.” (Susannah Gora, Premiere
magazine) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Starsky & Hutch [PG-13]Two streetwise cops (Ben Stiller
and Owens Wilson) bust criminals in their red-and-white Ford Torino with the
help of police snitch called Huggy Bear (Snoop Dogg). Based on the ’70s TV series.
“Finally, the out-of-the-closet Starsky and Hutch!” (Victoria Alexander, Filmsinreview.com)
ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Taking Lives [R] An FBI profiler (Angelina Jolie) is called in by French
Canadian police to catch a serial killer who takes on the identity of each new
victim. “Director D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea) shows promise. But when’s
the last time Jolie starred in a really good movie?” (Susannah Gora, Premiere
magazine) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2004.
