| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
A- |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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Dark Comedic Gem curtosy of the Coens
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
Jun 8, 2007
111
of
159 people found this review helpful
The Coens brothers are not just filmmakers anymore. They have more evolved into autours. Their style is instantly recognizable, even in their lesser efforts, and this certainly is not one of their lesser efforts. Teamed with, constant Coen cinematographer, Roger Deakins to create an almost fantasy like atmosphere around the simple plot of a team of heistmen on their way to a big payday from a "cash cow." I loved the fog that enshrouds the neighborhoods, the eerie statues on the bridge, the garbage barge, the bright colors of Mrs. Munson's house, and the cheerfulness of the church. These are so wonderfully created and insert you into the world of hilarity that is about to ensue.
Tom Hanks totally wraps himself in the role of Professor Dorr that after a while you totally forget it's Tom Hanks, a practical American icon. He's not the likable mentally slow schmo from Forrest Gump. He's a quickwitted, manipulive, caniving, and, oh yes, sadistic mastermind, but it's not like you love to hate him. You end up just loving him. Sure it's overtop hoopity hah, but that's the stuff Golden Globes are made of, and Tommy, you've got one coming your way next January. Check your mailbox.
Irma P. Hall is simply a delight as Mrs. Munson. She's got all the quirks of a ususual Coen creature, but also a simple likability. She adds grace to a performance that could have been thrown away as stereotypical nonsense. She's a very simple woman, as I said, but she can see right through Dorr's "double talk," and keeps right up pace with Hanks's performance the whole time. You'd think he would lap any of the other performances, but she stays right there with him.
And now Marlon, sweet sweet Marlon, he is the foil for Hanks's complexity and Hall's simplicity. A hipity hop talkin' rough and ready homeboy, who also has a sweet spot (and intense fear) of his mother. He doesn't ruin the movie as some will suspect, but does a nice job in his role. The role of The General is also effective. He acts with brutal efficiency, but intelligent enough not to go bone head like Marlon does sometimes. He's also a man of few words (a foil for Hanks who won't shut up I presume). Mr. Pancake wouldn't have been as affective if it hadn't been his schpiel about his irratable bowels. It's one toilet joke that had me laughing way out loud. Then there's that dumb jock. I dunno what to really say about him. That 1st person scene from his helment was rather brilliant when he was introduced, but he's also a man of few words (they're the few he knows). Then there's that character of Mrs. Munson's deceased husband over the fireplace who plays part in a very funny way. Did his face move or not?
What we have here is the funniest dark comedy in years. Run to your local theater forthwith, and don't fall off the bridge...
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