The Ladykillers (2004)

The Ladykillers (2004)

(remake of 1954 film - same title)

One of the Coen Brother's lesser known and arguably lesser (I'll get to that later) efforts, this is a very unsubtle movie about five criminals who deceive an old lady into believing that they are Renaissance musicians so she will let them stay in her house to practice their music, while really attempting to tunnel from her root cellar into the vault of a bank to steal 1.6 million dollars. 

Tom Hanks plays the ringleader of the bunch in a "southern gentleman" role. He is generally amusing, though his mannerisms are occasionally tiresome; for better or for worse, he isn't playing Tom Hanks in this movie. I could have done without the little hyperactive giggle he uses from time to time; his accent also didn't entirely convince me. I actually wish the Coens had devoted more screentime to the supporting characters, though most of the characters seemed somewhat underdeveloped and in some cases not particularly as likeable as they should have been. 

Not to say I didn't enjoy the movie, as I did. It sports a fine soundtrack consisting mostly of gospel music and it made me laugh out loud in places. The most amusing of the bunch were actually Marlon Wayans and usual Coen suspect J.K. Simmons, specifically their interactions together (and Wayans' scenes with bit player Stephen Root, funny as always). I also greatly enjoyed the character of the General with his various cigarette maneuvers.

It was refreshing to see such an un-PC movie, and such an old fashioned slapstick - almost completely unserious except for the oddly poetic and ironic finale. I found this to be quite enjoyable and indeed an underrated entry in the Coen brothers canon.

*** out of ****

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

 

A bizarre take on the nerd revenge scenario. A stuttering kid who is always being picked on lands in some radioactive waste and turns into a sort of warped monster/superhero combo and goes around beating up bad guys. He eventually falls in love with a blind girl who doesn't know how hideous he is.

A classic bad movie that I'd heard much about but hadn't seen before, this was also the first I'd seen of Troma, a fairly prolific and notorious horror comedy company. The movie started out as great wacky fun for the bad movie lover: very funny and very violent. Just when you think it won't run out of crazy ideas, it does. The second half was not bad, but it didn't do it for me like the first half did. It was less funny and less inspired, and the finale with the tank didn't do too much for me.

Overall, definitely worth a watch and probably a re-watch. Unfortunately I've heard that TA 2 and 3 aren't nearly as good or even worth watching. I will be on the lookout for other Troma films, however, especially Class of Nuke 'Em High.

*** out of ****

The "G" Men (1935)

The "G" Men (1935)

 

This is a slightly atypical gangster movie for the time. Cagney, then known for playing a gangster, in this movie plays an F.B.I. agent. He starts out associated with the wrong side of the law, then switches over. Hoover was actually involved in this movie, overseeing it for accuracy. 

That said, it's pretty boring in parts. It started out great and the dialogue and acting was good the whole way through, but the middle dragged. Honestly, and this is a fault of mine, I got tired of trying to differentiate the various 30s women with their identical hats and their relationships to the main characters.

The movie is sometimes cited as the first procedural, but overall there isn't a ton of action - it's not too exciting most of the way through. It was my first Cagney movie, however, and he was great. The final shootout at night was very well done. 

**½ out of ****

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Welcome.