The Bottom Line
"The Ladykillers" didn't find an audience in theaters. The film feels a lot like another Coen Bros. movie - "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" - and audiences just didn't seem to take to either movie during their theatrical releases. While "O Brother" went on to have great success on DVD, "The Ladykillers" doesn't have the same sort of appeal and hook, yet fans of Tom Hanks might want to check out "The Ladykillers" just to see what has to be one of his most unusual performances in a film.
Pros
- The Coen Bros. and Tom Hanks blend together well
- DVD Extra 'Slap Reel' featuring Marlon Wayans and Irma P. Hall is hilarious
Cons
- The movie doesn't work as well on the small screen (it needs a 'larger than life' big screen)
- No deleted scenes or commentary tracks
Description
- 'The Slap Reel' - Outtakes of Irma P. Hall physically manhandling Marlon Wayans
- 'The Gospel of The Ladykillers' - Two musical scenes
- 'Danny Ferrington: The Man Behind the Band' - Ferrington, Hanks, & the Coens discuss the instruments
- 'ScriptScanner' - Pop the DVD into your computer and follow along with the script
- DVD Release Date: September 7, 2004
Guide Review - "The Ladykillers" DVD Review
"The Ladykillers" marks the first collaboration between Tom Hanks ("Forrest Gump," "Cast Away") and the Coen Bros., Ethan and Joel ("Fargo," "Intolerable Cruelty"). Hanks stars as Professor G H Dorr, a man with a plan to rob a casino who recruits a weird group of criminals to help him carry off the heist. With their operation housed in the basement of a home owned by devoted churchgoer, Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall), the theft goes about as smoothly as you'd expect from a gang recruited via an ad in the local paper.
Tom Hanks sports a bizarre accent, interesting facial expressions, and, for the most part, carries off his role as ringleader of an inept group of thieves. Marlon Wayans, JK Simmons, Tzi Ma, and Ryan Hurst provide support but it's really Irma P. Hall's film. She's got the best lines, and wrings the most from her role.
The DVD has a couple of decent features, including my favorite - 'The Slap Reel' - which makes you feel extremely sorry for Marlon Wayans as he's on the receiving end of dozens of Hall's slaps (thus the title 'Slap Reel'). Otherwise, unless you're really into the music of "The Ladykillers," the DVD's bonus features lack any real insight into the film, its stars, or the filmmakers.
