The Ladykillers

It takes an actor with a lot of gumption to take on a classic role that was played by the classiest of thespians, Alec Guinness, but Hanks (as G.H. Dorr, Ph.D.) takes to the task with gusto and mostly positive results. In this quirky remake of the 1955 British offering, the setting shifts to Mississippi, where the robbers attempt to burrow from little old lady Mrs. Munson's (Hall) basement to the nearby casino's money room. While Hall is superb and Hanks is often dynamic as he plows through ornate speeches with a wicked laugh, it will depend on your tolerance for flowery language and a mannered Southern drawl whether you think it's melodious or annoying. Overall enjoyable, if uneven effort by the Coen brothers falls a bit short of the original.