THE LADYKILLERS
US, 2004, 103 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans, J.K. Simmons, Tzi Ma Reinhurst.
Directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen.
It was rumoured that the 1955 Ealing classic with Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers and Cecil Parker was to be remade with Robin Williams. British alarm bells went up. In fact, it is Tom Hanks who steps into the Alec Guinness role and the Coen Brothers who have updated and Americanised it. (Including several words that would not have occurred to original writer William Rose to include, the Coen's stock swearing which will deter some of the oldies who might want to see how the two films compare.)
It has certainly been Americanised - but with a lot of reference, even homage, to the original. While little old lady, Katie Johnson, has been turned into big old lady, Irma P. Hall, the five thieves parallel the past characters. Tom Hanks does a very clever turn as the sinister professor, with his own kind of crooked laugh and a vocabulary and turn of phrase that would put a literary gent to shame. Marlon Wayans, on the other hand, keeps his expressions and turns of phrases from the first two Scary Movies.
The setting is Natchez, a suburb of African Americans with several visits to Church where lots of hymns are sung with exuberance. In the meantime, the Mississippi and a bridge with a garbage barge passing underneath do very well for the former London train line.
It is the Coens in very relaxed mood, doing a caper movie, getting some amusing performances, especially from J.K.Simmons and his troublesome stomach, and raising some laughs. The main reason for seeing it, however, is the to and fro between Hanks and the excellent Irma P. Hall.
1. The classic status of the original film? Its plot and characters? This film and its homage to the original? Its being completely updated and Americanised (the southern settings, American African religion, the language and swearing)?
2. A robbery comedy, the emphasis on characters rather than the techniques? The work of the Cohen brothers?
3. The Natchez setting, the opening with the bridge, the garbage barges, the isolated sheriff's house, the ordinary streets, suburbia, the gambling ship, the bandit queen?
4. The musical score, the range of gospel songs, in church, the response of the congregation? The leaders of song? The songs during the final credits?
5. Mrs Munson, a big old lady, the photo of her husband on the wall, its various positions, expressions? African American? Her going to see the sheriff, complaining about the hip-hop music, Professor Dorr and his arrival, her receiving him, her cat getting out, his being forced to climb the tree and his falling? Her looking after him, the talk, his wanting to rent the room, the cellar and his information about church music?
6. Tom Hanks as Professor Dorr, his look, his sinister laugh, his qualifications, his southern gentleman clothes, his southern gentleman manners yet his being sinister? His language, vocabulary?
7. The presentation of the team in their settings, the hold-up in the Korean shop, the robbers, the woman at the till, the General coming out, his fingers up the nose of the assailant, his overcoming them? The football matches, the tests, Lump and his being continually hit? Mr Pancake and his presence on the commercials, the dog (and the gas mask and its dying)? His being agreeable on all things, a man of principle? Gawain and his being the inside man, his work in the casino, with the large man in the vault? His relationship with the boss?
8. Their going to work, the planning of the robbery, the tape recorder with the music? Mrs Munson entering and their being ready for her? The digging, the removing of the soil, throwing it on the garbage barge? Gawain and his clash with the boss, his being fired? The reaction of the professor, calm, getting Gawain to be humble? His going back, reinstated? In the tunnel, Mr Pancake and his bowel disorder, needing to go to the toilet? The failure of the explosion, his going into the tunnel, resetting the alarm, the explosion, losing his finger, taken by the cat? The actual robbery, the taking of the money, the garbage bags through the tunnel? Gawain and his blocking up the hole, painting over it?
9. Mrs Munson, her character, kindness, at church, forbidding the smoking? Enjoying the singing? Coming home to make the tea, the ladies all arriving, trapping the men - and the professor reciting the poems by Edgar Allen Poe? Mrs Munsen catching them, the professor's plausible explanation about Mr Pancake's money? Her challenging him with the truth, his talk about the Bob Jones University - her donations, his explanation about the one cent on people's insurance policies? Her giving the ultimatum about prison or church on Sunday?
10. The plan to kill Mrs Munson, the drawing of the straws? Gawain and his going to Mrs Munson's room, remembering his mother and her rebuking him, his brothers and sisters, his inability to kill Mrs Munson? His own death? Pancake and his girlfriend Mountain Water, the shared experience with the stomach disorders? His taking all the money, the General killing him? The General's attempt to kill Mrs Munson, her false teeth, the smoke, his falling down the steps and dying? The getting rid of the bodies on the garbage barge? Lump, refusing, the gun, trying to kill the professor, shooting himself? The raven and the loose gargoyle and the death of the professor? The humorous ending with the cat and Mr Pancake's finger and dropping it onto the barge?
11. Mrs Munson, going to the sheriff, her story about the money - and its seeming wildly impossible? Their suggestion that she keep the money and she give it to Bob Jones University?
