I thought it was pretty great- a more balanced mix of classic Coen (antiquated dialogue, odd characters, strangely awesome music, macabre humor) and the more Hollywood-friendly style epitomized by Intolerable Cruelty (quick pace, easy to grasp plot, a little bit of pandering humor with Marlon Wayan's character). I really like that they can satisfy Coenists like myself but also draw in the average moviegoer. Tom Hanks was actually quite perfect- not as annoying as I had feared. It wasn't anywhere near The Man Who Wasn't There or Lebowski or anything, but still totally enjoyable. Anyone else seen it?

I've seen the first 30 or so minutes and I would like to see the rest of it at some point. Oddly enough, I don't think I've seen anyone under the age of 40 go to see this film. When I was in the box office last night, I sold at least 4 tickets to women who were obviously over 50. Very odd.

My parents took me to see it one night, and it was alright. Wasn't the best thing I've seen in a while, but it kept me entertained for the most part.

I seem to make this report every time a new Coen film comes out, so I'll just post my rankings.

1. Barton Fink
2. Miller's Crossing
3. The Big Lebowski
4. The Man Who Wasn't There
5. O Brother Where Art Thou?
6. Hudsucker Proxy
7. Blood Simple
8. Fargo
9. The Ladykillers
10. Raising Arizona
11. Intolerable Cruelty

Which isn't to say I didn't love Ladykillers, or even Intolerable. But in both cases, it was a Coen screenplay adapted from someone else's original, and the core idea was not theirs. Despite their ability to play with homage and pastiche so well, I think that direct adaptation is simply not what they should be doing.

Ladykillers is a blast, but something about it feels off. Clearly it isn't entirely their film, but there may be more. I feel like the success of O Brother Where Art Thou? may have triggered both Intolerable and Ladykillers, films that follow O Brother's sense of dialogue to a T and emphasize the same Sturges-derived humor. They do this well, but if they become one-trick ponies, I'll be upset. In all honesty, before Intolerable, the characters in their films never spoke in the same ways... there was a specificity of time and place in the dialogue of Man Who, Fargo, Lebowski, Fink, Miller's, etc. Intolerable and Ladykillers are both full of characters whose speech patterns could have been lifted from O Brother. While it may be too specific for me to focus on, I think this may be a signifier of laziness on their part, or of the proverbial selling out. Their next project, whatever it may be, should hopefully prove me wrong. I just hope they do an original idea and not another rewrite or adaptation.

All of this negativity really makes it seem like I didn't love Ladykillers, but I did. They just happen to be my favorite filmmakers, and I like them best when they keep surprising me. Falling into any pattern is certainly not what I want from them.

Will

(Edited by Wiyum at 11:33 pm on Apr. 7, 2004)

Wow. I liked Intolerable Cruelty. Not my favorite of their films, but certainly not my least favorite. I still haven't seen: Barton Fink, Hudsucker Proxy or Blood Simple. I guess my least favorite would be Raising Arizona, but even it wasn't a bad movie.

I did not realize this, and I agree about their similarities. In a way, it makes me happy for them, because more people can get into them. But it would make me very sad to think that they'd stick with this formula, and we'd never have another Man Who Wasn't There, etc.

For the record, I'd put Raising Arizona in my top 5, or maybe even top 3. But I think it's a nostalgia thing.

I saw it the other night. I really liked it, but I had hoped it would be funnier than it was.
Tom Hanks = Awesome

I certainly agree, it was a great movie. I own it. I've watched it twice since its DVD release even. But one of their films has to be my least favorite despite my love for it, and that happens to be the one.

Will

Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone wrote the original draft of Intolerable Cruelty. Joel and Ethan were called in by the film's producer, Brain Grazer, to do a rewrite. They rewrote it and Jonathan Demme was set to direct for a long time. For A long time it was to be a Julia Roberts / Richard Gere film. Eventually Demme dropped out, and that caused Roberts to. When Gere dropped out, Grazer plead with the Coens, suggesting that if they didn't hop aboard to save the ship, the screenplay would likely never get made. They were in the process of finishing Man Who Wasn't There and didn't have a next project lined up, so they decided it would be fun. And I'd agree that it was. But they never intended to direct it.

Ladykillers is a remake of an old British comedy with Alec Guiness and Peter Sellers. Classic, actually.

Will

(Edited by Wiyum at 12:49 am on Apr. 9, 2004)

Yeah, I guess I did know that Ladykillers was a remake, I don't know why I said that. I have not seen the original, but I love me some Peter Sellers. Holy shit, Intolerable Cruelty woudl have sucked so unbelievably hard in its original incarnation. It gives me more respect for them that it turned out as well as it did.

I have nothing intelligent to say as far as reviewing this movie goes. Suffice it to say that I saw The Ladykillers last night and enjoyed it mucho.

My favorite character was the General. And the cat. I wonder if he got his name from stealing pickles, hence giving him an appetite for running off with small, cyllindrical objects.

This film, like all the rest of the crap that has been tainted by the vile hands of the Coens, tries to be droll and clever, but instead ends up being an obnoxious waste of time. These guys really need to pack up and move back to Sucksville and leave the moviemaking to the pros.

such as...?

Penny Marshall and Ron Howard.

I'd have to add Penny's older brother Gary to that list, too... and maybe even Rob Reiner on Tuesdays...

Holy crap. I always thought Gary was her dad. Oops.

HER?!?

Yes, It's true...it's been revealed that Penny Marshall is a...*gasp*...woman! Oh, the scandal!

I've always just assumed Penny was a hijra.

One thing's for sure, Shirley was always way hotter than Lavergne.

Check and mate.

I saw that a League of Their Own special edition has come out with oodles of bonus features. I must buy.

"Marla Hooch...whatta hitter."

Pathetically enough, that movie has Madonna's best acting.

and rosie odonnell

And Lori Petty.

And Tom Hanks.

Of course, he was also excellent in Lady Killers. Let's talk about that.

Whoa, Champ, can't have none of that on-topic crap. No sirree.