The Ladykillers
An eccentric professor and his oddball crew pose as a classical ensemble in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of an unsuspecting old landlady.
Why It’s Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: Admittedly, you might be hard-pressed to find someone who considers The Ladykillers to be a high point in Joel and Ethan Coen’s esteemed filmography. The often derided, madcap dark comedy is considered one of the worst from the acclaimed movie makers. But, Coen movies are like pizza, in that even when they’re not that great, they’re still pretty good. In that respect, even the weakest Coen brothers’ film is better than most movies out there. And, this one, like any other Coen brothers flick, has an outstanding cast, including Tom Hanks, J.K. Simmons, Irma P. Hall, Tzi Ma, and Marlon Wayans. Wayans, in particular, really commits to the bit, as he always does. His foul-mouthed, hot-headed janitor, Gawain MacSam, is another livewire performance from the very dedicated actor. Even when the material sadly doesn’t shine, the comic stays ferocious.
Rent The Ladykillers on Amazon.