The Lady Killers

Touchstone Pictures presents a Tom Jackson production

Starring: Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans, J.K. Simmons, Tzi Ma, Ryan Hurst

Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen

Rating: ****

Plot: A group of gentlemen lead by a southern gentlemen played by Tom Hanks tries to dig a tunnel under a casino to steal money. Simple right? Not exactly they have tricked an old black woman to stay in her home acting like they are a band playing church music. Lets just say not everything works out as problems come up. Coen brothers ensue.

Acting: Tom Hanks is really just Jesus of movie actors really. I've loved everything he's been in. He's done everything from a guy with AIDS to a man stranded on an island. His performance here is so irreverently funny the man himself has such wit in him that it's hard to grasp. His laugh in this movie is just unforgettable. Irma Hall does a great job and should at least go up for supporting actress nominee for the next Oscars. She is just so good here. You'll bust a gut laughing at her. The best scenes are with her and Marlon Wayans who plays an over the top black gangsta type. He curses around her and she goes crazy slapping him and telling him she doesn't want no hippiedi hop language in her house. Funniest thing I've seen all year I swear. The rest of the cast is pretty good but stays in the back ground and they have their moments every once and a while. This was really a Tom Hanks and Irma Hall show with everyone else just catching a ride.

Directing/Writing: I am a big fan of the Coen brothers. I think they are funny and smart, sometimes even too smart. O' Brother Where Art Thou was just an amazingly brilliant film. I even did enjoy Intolerable Cruelty when everyone else seemingly didn't. Anyway this movie may be too much for some people. The dialogue here and jokes are old school and may actually be too intelligent for people who have their minds shut off. Now I am not saying this is some art filled movie where the concepts are all diluted, no this movie is clear and the point gets across easily its just, the film is a dark comedy and a lot of stuff may just drift right over everyone's head. Coen brothers movies aren't for everybody, they are for me though. I personally enjoyed myself and laughed all the way through it because I just get it. It slight witfull humor not in your face humor which you would get in like Eurotrip or something it is the type of comedy which will warm you but then also make you cringe because it catches you off guard many times.

Overall: A very funny and over the top film with Coen brothers written all over it. I mean its delightful in that it brings you comedy from a different angle then what I think audiences are used to.