Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

The Ladykillers
2004
**
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cast: Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans, J.K. Simmons, Tzi Ma

A useless low-brow remake of the 1950s comedy classic. Tom Hanks plays a criminal mastermind who rents a room from an old black lady. Irma P. Hall's performance as the vivacious landlady is the saving grace, but her character is in the wrong film. Some of the best films by the Coen brothers are based on loveable characters rather than strong stories, but now they've dropped the ball. You can accept the lazy scripting and even the toilet humour, but the incredibly annoying  black guy from the hood (played by Marlon Wayans) is where I draw the line.