The Ladykillers (2004)

Directors:

Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Writers (WGA):

Joel Coen (screenplay) &
Ethan Coen (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 March 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

The greatest criminal minds of all time have finally met their match.

Plot:

An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a band in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting landlord: a sharp old woman.

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Casino | Remake | Heist | Landlady

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Professor G.H. Dorr
Irma P. Hall	...	Marva Munson
Marlon Wayans	...	Gawain MacSam
J.K. Simmons	...	Garth Pancake
Tzi Ma	...	The General
Ryan Hurst	...	Lump Hudson
Diane Delano	...	Mountain Girl
George Wallace	...	Sheriff Wyner
John McConnell	...	Deputy Sheriff
Jason Weaver	...	Weemack Funthes
Stephen Root	...	Fernand Gudge
Lyne Odums	...	Rosalie Funthes (as Baadja-Lyne Odums)
Walter K. Jordan	...	Elron (as Walter Jordan)
George Anthony Bell	...	Preacher
Greg Grunberg	...	TV Commercial Director
Hallie Singleton	...	Craft Service
Robert Baker	...	Quarterback
Blake Clark	...	Football Coach
Amad Jackson	...	Doughnut Gangster
Aldis Hodge	...	Doughnut Gangster
Freda Foh Shen	...	Doughnut Woman
Paula Martin	...	Gawain's Mama
Jeremy Suarez	...	Li'l Gawain
Te Te Benn	...	Gawain's Sister
Khalil East	...	Gawain's Brother
Jennifer Echols	...	Waffle Hut Waitress
Nita Norris	...	Tea Lady
Vivian Smallwood	...	Tea Lady
Maryn Tasco	...	Tea Lady
Muriel Whitaker	...	Tea Lady
Jessie Bailey	...	Tea Lady
Louisa Abernathy	...	Church Voice (voice)
Mildred Dumas	...	Church Voice (voice)
Al Fann	...	Church Voice (voice)
Mi Mi Green-Fann	...	Church Voice (voice)
Maurice Watson	...	Othar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bruce Campbell	...	Humane Society Worker (uncredited)
Michael Dotson	...	Angry Football Fan (uncredited)

Directed by
Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Writing credits (WGA)
Joel Coen		(screenplay) &
Ethan Coen		(screenplay)
William Rose		(movie "The Ladykillers")

Produced by
John Cameron	....	co-producer
Ethan Coen	....	producer
Joel Coen	....	producer
David Diliberto	....	associate producer
Robert Graf	....	associate producer
Tom Jacobson	....	producer
Barry Josephson	....	producer
Barry Sonnenfeld	....	producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ethan Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Joel Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth

Production Design by
Dennis Gassner

Art Direction by
Richard L. Johnson		(supervising art director) (as Richard Johnson)

Set Decoration by
Nancy Haigh

Costume Design by
Mary Zophres

Makeup Department
Paul LeBlanc	....	hair designer (as Paul LeBlanc)
Amy Schmiederer	....	key makeup artist
Ron Snyder	....	assistant makeup artist
Daniel C. Striepeke	....	key makeup artist (as Daniel Striepeke)
Linda Villalobos	....	key hair stylist
Bryan Whisnant	....	assistant hair stylist
David Beneke	....	dental prosthetics (uncredited)
Cleve Gunderman	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
John Cameron	....	unit production manager
Karen Ruth Getchell	....	production supervisor
Robert Graf	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Dress	....	second second assistant director (as Pete Dress)
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Jonathan McGarry	....	second assistant director
Marc Newland	....	dga trainee
Donald Murphy	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
J. Todd Anderson	....	ink and leads
Paige Augustine	....	assistant set decorator
Dawn Brown	....	set designer (as Dawn Brown Manser)
Thomas E. Brown	....	paint supervisor
Dianne Chadwick	....	graphic designer
Curtis Corbitt	....	property assistant (as Curt Corbitt)
Chris Cummings	....	art department coordinator
Vincent D'Aquino	....	greens gang boss
James M. Davis	....	general foreman (as Jim M. Davis)
Val I. Deikov	....	sculptor gang boss (as Val I. Drake)
Lucy Jacobson	....	art department assistant
Scott G. Jones	....	set dressing foreman
Noelle King	....	set designer
Ritchie Kremer	....	property master
Barbara Lange	....	art department assistant
Leslie 'Tinker' Linville	....	set dressing gang boss (as Leslie Linville)
Annie Lukowski	....	art department assistant (as Annie Lynch)
Scott Lukowski	....	illustrator
Kevin Mangan	....	greens coordinator
Jon Nicholson	....	on-set dresser
Jeff Passanante	....	construction coordinator
Monica Perez	....	assistant property master
Sara Philpott	....	set dressing coordinator
James Van Houten	....	lead sculptor
Mark Weissenfluh	....	leadman (as Mark C. Weissenfluh)
Christina Ann Wilson	....	assistant art director (as Christy Wilson)
Richard J. Bell	....	greens foreman (uncredited)
Jack Blanchard	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Shane Buckallew	....	plaster gang boss (uncredited)
Richard Crain	....	propmaker gang boss (uncredited)
Oscar Delgadillo	....	set dresser (uncredited)
James Fernandez	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Anthony Klaiman	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Cameron Matheson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Scott Owen	....	set dresser (uncredited)
James Passanante	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Jason Puga	....	painter (uncredited)
Eric S. Saperstein	....	painter (uncredited)
Bruce G. Smith	....	paint foreman (uncredited)
Mark Sparks	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Kelly Doran	....	sound utility
Mark Filip	....	apprentice sound editor
Eugene Gearty	....	sound designer
Lewis Goldstein	....	supervising dialogue editor (as Lew Goldstein)
Paul Hsu	....	sound effects editor
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randy Johnson)
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter F. Kurland	....	production sound mixer (as Peter Kurland)
George A. Lara	....	foley supervisor (as George Lara)
Hal Levinsohn	....	dialogue editor
Skip Lievsay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Cate Montana	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Orloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffrey Stern	....	dialogue editor (as Jeff Stern)
Paul Urmson	....	sound effects editor
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Brian Bowles	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound designer (uncredited)
Eric Harwood	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
David Warzynski	....	foley assistant (uncredited)
David Warzynski	....	foley librarian (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Chesney Jr.	....	special effects technician (as Pete Chesney)
Peter Chesney	....	special effects coordinator
Tom Chesney	....	special effects technician
Bruce Allan Donnellan	....	special effects foreman (as Bruce Donnellan)
Joe Heffernan	....	special effects technician
Emmet Kane	....	special effects technician
Al Marangoni	....	special effects foreman (as Albert Marangoni)
Phil Notaro	....	key set special effects foreman
Steve Austin	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Blair Foord	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Shaun Glendenning	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Thomas Pelton III	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Michael Roundy	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Mark Stanton	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Sandra Stewart	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Paul Vigil	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
John Zinskey	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jeff Allen	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Jesse Andrewartha	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Steve Avoujageli	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Mike Dalzell	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Matt Dessero	....	composite supervisor: ESC Entertainment
Christina Drahos	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Janeen Elliott	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Mohen Leo	....	digital effects supervisor: ESC Entertainment
Kimberley Liptrap	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Ed Mendez	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Kira-Anne Pelican	....	visual effects producer: ESC Entertainment
Thomas Proctor	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment (as Tom Proctor)
Steve J. Sanchez	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects supervisor
Davi Stein	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Ryan Michael Todd	....	digital effects artist: ESC Entertainment
Janet Yale	....	visual effects producer: ESC Entertainment
Tony Abejuro	....	matchmover (uncredited)
Matthew Adams	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Jeremy Beadell	....	digital operations manager (uncredited)
Randy Bosh	....	digital archivist: New Deal Studios (uncredited)
Timothy Michael Cairns	....	quality control supervisor: EFILM/Panavision (uncredited)
Jen Cantwell	....	paint/roto artist (uncredited)
Trevor Cawood	....	technical director: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Michael Jared Clausen	....	character animator: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Thomas A. Davila	....	president: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Dan Dixon	....	modeler (uncredited)
Fabian Elmers	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Christopher J. Eng	....	modeler: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Ken Faiman	....	virtual cinematography (uncredited)
Brian Freisinger	....	lead modeler: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Ed Fuller	....	visual effects editor: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Matthew Gratzner	....	miniature effects supervisor: New Deal Studios, Inc. (uncredited)
Jericho Green	....	modeler (uncredited)
Lyndal Heathwood	....	paint/roto artist (uncredited)
Allen Hemberger	....	color & lighting (uncredited)
Ryan Hopkins	....	visual effects technical director (uncredited)
Tristan Ikuta	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Ntana Key	....	digital intermediate color assistant (uncredited)
Jason Kisvarday	....	model maker (uncredited)
Derek Krauss	....	digital paint & rotoscope artist (uncredited)
Oystein Larsen	....	visual effects technical director (uncredited)
Mike Leben	....	motion control operator (uncredited)
Kevin Lin	....	quality control coordinator, digital intermediate: Efilm/Panavision (uncredited)
Lisa Maher	....	visual effects producer: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Andres Martinez	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Olivier Maury	....	research and development: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Neil Michka	....	animator (uncredited)
Tadao Mihashi	....	visual effects: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Seth F. Miller	....	roto/paint artist: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Noah Mizrahi	....	character animator (uncredited)
Natalya Lissa Mortimer	....	3D texture painter (uncredited)
Andrew Pearce	....	senior software manager (uncredited)
Steve Rheinfrank	....	CGI modeler (uncredited)
Jose Samson	....	modeler (uncredited)
Joey Santana	....	assistant visual effects editor: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Janelle Schneider	....	texture painter (uncredited)
Steven J. Scott	....	digital intermediate colorist: EFilm (uncredited)
Lesley Tsina	....	production coordinator: LIDAR Services VFX (uncredited)
Nowell Valeri	....	matchmove artist: ESC Entertainment (uncredited)
Matthew A. Ward	....	pre-visual animation lead (uncredited)
Matthew A. Ward	....	shot designer (uncredited)
Scott Williston	....	lead miniature painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Danny Downey	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Imada	....	stunts
Hiro Koda	....	stunts
Jennifer Lamb	....	stunts
Brandon Molale	....	stunts
Allen Robinson	....	stunts
Charles Grisham	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Hiro Koda	....	stunt double: Tzi Ma (uncredited)
Kurt D. Lott	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Darrin Prescott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kevin Reid	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Allen Robinson	....	stunt double: Tom Hanks (uncredited)
Tony Snegoff	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Josh Blakeslee	....	second assistant camera (as Joshua Blakeslee)
Julian de la Pena	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Clinton Dougherty	....	camera operator (as Clint Doherty)
Paul Goldhammer	....	camera loader
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	still photographer
Robert Gray	....	key grip (as Bob Gray)
Quinn Grove	....	best boy grip
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Andy Harris	....	first assistant camera
Sean Hellfritsch	....	camera intern
Raymond Michels	....	key rigging grip (as Ray Michels)
Chris Napolitano	....	rigging gaffer
Edward R. Nedin	....	rigging best boy (as Edward Nedin)
Alfred E. Smithey	....	best boy rigging grip (as Alf Smithey)
Randy Woodside	....	chief lighting technician
Russell Ayer	....	electrician (uncredited)
James Barrett	....	electrician (uncredited)
Joe Buscaglia	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Earl R. Cantrell	....	electrician (uncredited)
Will Dearborn	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Ric Delgado	....	electrician (uncredited)
Andrew Dumas	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Jeff Durling	....	dimmer operator (uncredited)
Rick Grover	....	second unit: key grip (uncredited)
Daisuke Dice Miyake	....	grip (uncredited)
Chava Monjaraz	....	grip (uncredited)
Bradford Ralston	....	video assist operator: additional photography (uncredited)
Bruce Sharp	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Jas Shelton	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Larry Sushinski	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Rachel Tenner	....	casting associate
Elena Cizmaric	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Sarah Tackett	....	additional casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vicente Aguilar	....	tailor
Leo Arellanes	....	tailor
Wyatt Bartlett	....	set costumer
Lori DeLapp	....	costume supervisor (as Lori De Lapp)
Jenny Eagan	....	costumer
Diana Edgmon	....	costumer
Alix Hester	....	costumer
Annie Hill	....	costumer (as Annie Garrity)
Tasha Le Mel	....	costumer
Maria Lorenzana	....	costume assistant (as Maria Labbe)
Andrew Slyder	....	set costumer
Christine Wada	....	costumer
Jenny Eagan	....	assistant to costume designer (uncredited)
Dana Embree	....	costumer (uncredited)
Giselle Spence	....	seamstress (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Terra Bliss-Alvarez	....	digital intermediate producer (as Terra Bliss)
Emily Calederone	....	post-production assistant
Catherine Farrell	....	post-production coordinator
Katie Mcquerrey	....	first assistant editor (as Katie McQuerrey)
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Steven J. Scott	....	color timer (as Steve Scott)
Ian Silverstein	....	assistant editor
Neil A. Stelzner	....	associate film editor
Judith Babcock	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Valance Eisleben	....	high definition editorial services (uncredited)
Jeff Schweikart	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Jill Berliner	....	music legal services (as Jill Berliner Esq.)
Fernand Bos	....	music editor
T-Bone Burnett	....	executive music producer (as T Bone Burnett)
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Keefus Ciancia	....	associate music producer: hip-hop
Michael Farrow	....	music scoring mixer
Danny Ferrington	....	period music instruments
Tony Finno	....	music preparation
Rickey Grundy	....	choir leader
Peewee Hill	....	musician: bass guitar
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
William Kennedy	....	musician: drums
Debra MacCulloch	....	music legal services
Linda Maiden	....	soloist: "Let the Light from the Lighthouse Shine On Me" singer
Tony Maiden	....	musician: guitar and vocals
Bill Maxwell	....	associate music producer: gospel music
Howard McCrary	....	soloist: "Let the Light from the Lighthouse Shine On Me" singer
Sam McCrary	....	musician: bass vocals
Sydney Negley	....	soundtrack coordinator
Sandra Park	....	musician contractor
Dean Parker	....	assistant to composer
Mike Piersante	....	music engineer
Louis Price	....	soloist: "Let the Light from the Lighthouse Shine On Me" singer
Chris Robertson	....	music clearances
Ivy Skoff	....	soundtrack production manager
Sharon Yamada	....	concert master
Seth Boggess	....	assistant score engineer (uncredited)
Kevin Mitchell	....	support: soundtracks (uncredited)
John Moses	....	musician: clarinetist (uncredited)
Timmy Olmstead	....	assistant engineer (uncredited)
Jason Stasium	....	digital score recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Paul Ripple	....	transportation dispatcher
Timothy P. Ryan	....	transportation captain (as Tim Ryan)
Don Tardino	....	transportation coordinator
Paulie DiCocco	....	driver: Tom Hanks (uncredited)

Other crew
Janine L. Aines	....	animal trainer
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Greg Burkart	....	additional assistant accountant (as Greg Burkhart)
Jules Carideo	....	production coordinator
Gloria Castro	....	alteration fitter
J. John Corbett	....	title designer
Jenny DeArmitt	....	production secretary (as Jenny Dearmitt)
Yoshi Enoki Jr.	....	key assistant location manager
Rachael Lin Gallaghan	....	assistant production coordinator
Ed Godfrey	....	assistant location manager: Mississippi
Allan Graf	....	football coordinator
Jason Cooper Hall	....	assistant to producers
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach (as Liz Himmelstein)
Ryan Hintz	....	second assistant accountant
Drew P. Houpt	....	production office assistant (as Drew Houpt)
Nancy G. James	....	craft service (as Nancy James)
Thomas Johnston	....	script supervisor (as Tom Johnston)
Kathy Kelehan	....	title producer
Cheryl Kurk	....	production accountant
David R. Lawson	....	medic
James Lin	....	location manager
Jackie Martin	....	animal trainer (as Jackie Kaptan)
Amy McKenzie	....	assistant: Mr. Hanks
Ted Meyer	....	production office assistant
Cristie Miele	....	animal trainer
Murray Miller	....	location manager: Mississippi
Patricia Mary Murphy	....	serious matters
Monica Perez Gelbman	....	post-production accountant: Trevanna Post
Taylor Phillips	....	key set production assistant
Kara Place	....	set production assistant
Sooki Raphael	....	assistant: Mr. Hanks
Ferguson Reid	....	medic (as Dr. Ferguson Reid MD)
Ian Savage	....	assistant: Messrs. Coen
Meghan Schafer	....	animal trainer (as Meghan Schaeffer)
Beatrice Scott	....	assistant: Ms. Hall
Cheryl Shawver	....	animal trainer
Todd Spears	....	payroll accountant
Louise Spencer	....	unit publicist (as Louise A. Spencer)
Clay Valenti	....	assistant location manager: Los Angeles
Karen Yokomizo	....	first assistant accountant
Emma Baksi	....	assistant: Marlon Wayans (uncredited)
Jon Donahue	....	photo double: Mr. Hanks (uncredited)
Jon Donahue	....	stand-in: Mr. Hanks (uncredited)
Ben Dukes	....	stand-in: Mr. Hurst (uncredited)
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant: Trevanna Post (uncredited)
Michael Gerald	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Daphne A. Guichard	....	set medic (uncredited)
Seth William Hansen	....	additional set production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Rob Kalmbach	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Dave McComb	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
George A. Parker	....	technical supervisor: preview (uncredited)
Scott Pitman	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Keith Potter	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Anthony Reynolds	....	stand-in: JK Simmons (uncredited)
Ryan Schnizlein	....	systems administrator (uncredited)
Buzz Visconti	....	first aid (uncredited)
Troy Waters	....	marine coordinator (uncredited)
George M. White	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Mr. Hand	....	special thanks
Joe Pecknik	....	special thanks (as Joe Peknik)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presented by) (copyright owners)
• Jacobson Company, The (uncredited)
• Mike Zoss Productions
• Pancake Productions Inc. (uncredited)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Spain (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Bravo! Television (2009) (Canada) (TV)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2004) (Germany) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (TV)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• De Volkskrant (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Complete Coen Brother Collection)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• ESC Entertainment (special visual effects)
• Standard Image (opticals)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by: IAHA 005261
• Animal Actors  
• Avotelles Parish  special thanks
• Background Players  extras casting
• Big Film Design  title design
• Body, The  score mixed at
• Canal+ Image UK  licensor: "The Ladykillers" original motion picture
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• City of Natchez, Mississippi  special thanks
• Columbia Records  soundtrack available on
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television  footage: "The Jeffersons" courtesy of (as Columbia TriStar Television)
• DMZ Records  soundtrack available on (as DMZ)
• Diamond Time  music clearances
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Hollywood Lighting  lighting equipment supplied by
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack available on
• Inter Video  24 frame video services (uncredited)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop  puppets
• Kodak  motion picture products
• Lidar Services  visual effects (Lidar scanning and modelling)
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Metropolitan Museum of Art  special thanks: instrument collection
• Mississippi Film Office  special thanks
• Otto Nemenz International  arriflex 535 cameras (as Otto Nemenz)
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities (uncredited)
• Right Track Recording  score recorded at (as Right Track Studios, New York)
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack available on
• Tony's Food Service  catering (as Tony's Food Service)
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Vietnamese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:TE | Czech Republic:U | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 (f) | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:T | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40668) | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18SX (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | France:U | South Korea:15 | Malta:16

Filming Locations:

Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

This is the first Coen brothers film where Joel Coen and Ethan Coen are both given directing and producing credits. They have shared these duties on all of their films, but Joel has always been listed as the director, and Ethan as producer.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Professor Dorr says the University of Mississippi is in Hattiesburg. It's actually in Oxford. The University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg. While it may be Dorr's error, it seems unlikely that Mrs. Munson, a Mississippi native, wouldn't notice.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sheriff Wyner:Unh... Oh! Afternoon, Miss Munson.
Marva Munson:Afternoon, Sheriff. You know the Funthes boy?

Movie Connections:

References "Band of Brothers" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Trouble of This World (Coming Home)

For a Coen Brothers film, his ranks as a disappointment

Is there a Hollywood tandem that is more misinterpreted or under appreciated than the director brother team of Ethan and Joel Coen? Over the years, their filmography has included an eclectic group of entries that have introduced us to some of the strangest characters this side of a David Lynch television special. Remember how weird Barton Fink was when we first me him? How strange was the musical number featuring the Dude in The Big Lebowski? And was there any better way of watching Raising Arizona than alone and under an influence? Add to the mix their more popular entries like O Brother Where Art Thou, Fargo and Blood Simple, and you have a brother team that has given us one unique vision after another for the past 20 years. In fact, their style has attracted some of Hollywood's A-list talent including Jeff Bridges, George Clooney and Nicholas Cage. So when their 2004 film remake of The Ladykillers was announced, it was not much of a surprise that none other than Mr. Revered Tom Hanks attached himself to the project in the starring role.

I will admit to not having seen the original Ladykillers starring Alec Guinness, but I don't think I am at a loss due to this oversight. The 2004 edition stars Hanks as Professor G.H Dorr, a refined gentleman with a southern droll that enlists the aide of four other misfits in effort to steal money from the Riverside casino vault. Their plan is simple. First, Dorr rents a room from an elderly black woman (Irma P. Hall), and then under the guise of a band practice, the group beings to tunnel from the basement of the house to the casino's counting room. Simple right? Not with this cast of morons, and never ever ever in a Coen film.

To understand the obstacles, we must first understand the dynamics of the group. There is the explosives expert, Garth (J.K. Simmons) who seems both confident and careless at the same time. There is The General (Tzi Ma), a chain-smoking Asian responsible for tunneling to the riverside. We have the token black guy in Gawain (Marlon Wayans) and finally, the dunce Lump (Ryan Hurst) who is hired more for his brawn than his brain. Together, they complete a team of would-be criminals that couldn't be more different in their personalities or character traits than the cast of Survivor All-Stars.

The heist in itself is ingenious, but before long, the intangible comes into play in the character of Irma P. Halls' Marva Munson. Marva is a church going individual who doesn't stand for foul language, violence or even smoking. The thought of a group of men hiding out in her basement seems to intrigue her, and her interest in their matters will soon lead to a discussion within the group on how best to deal with Ms. Munson.

The rest of the movie, without spoiling it for you wanna-seers, surrounds the groups efforts to dig the tunnel and steal the money all the while trying to hide their intended scheme from the curious old lady up the stairs.

In the hands of the Coen's, The Ladykillers shaped up to be one of this years must sees. Unfortunately, the end result left much of the audience trying to gauge their eyes out or at the very least, scratching their heads wondering where it all went wrong. But it's not for lack of trying. Neither is it one specific thing that brought the movie down to a two star rating. The story was interesting if not original, and the black humor of the Coen's was present in every other scene. Garth's problem with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) was a bit too hokey for my tastes, but generally, it does look like everyone was having fun.

The issue might be in the director's indecision as to the type of movie he was trying to make. Was it a heist film? A comedy? It would almost have worked as a good family type caper had it not been for the Gawain character that spews off mother f****ers often enough to issue the film a Restricted rating. This lack of a truly defined direction left me with a feeling that all the ideas were just thrown into a melting pot and this was the result. There are good scenes and bad, but the end result leaves a stale taste in your mouth (which could have been the popcorn, I must concede).

One thing that did take my notice is the films' deaths. And there are a handful. The Coen's have always brought us memorable demises (remember the Wood Chipper in Fargo?), and in Ladykillers, as the members fall to the hands of their own greed one by one, they are offed in a way that made me laugh and was unique enough to go on their wall of accomplishments alongside the flood in O Brother Where Art Thou or Dan Hedaya in Blood Simple.

So if I was forced to watch the film history of the Coen's, I would have to put this film towards the bottom just above Intolerable Cruelty. Tom Hanks may have tried to stretch our his dynamically changing characters film-to-film just one step too far. His southern drawl and eccentric Professor G.H Dorr may not be one of the characters that he looks fondly upon when we are doing Hank's retrospectives 25 years from now. And if he doesn't…why should we?