Comments on: The Ladykillers http://www.moviezeal.com/2008/04/25/the-ladykillers/ zealous for all things film Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:34:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Rick Olson http://www.moviezeal.com/2008/04/25/the-ladykillers/#comment-1005 Rick Olson Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:55:51 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=435#comment-1005 Good review of what is indeed arguably the brothers' weakest film. I think that the brothers use stereotypes to advantage in many a flick; problem with doing this is you sometimes step over the line. As a denizen of the deep south (currently Alabama, but formerly Mississippi where parts of the film were filmed) I thought this went over the edge, especially in its depiction of African Americans. (I'm thinking of Irma Hall, here). Not that they're all negative stereotypes, mind you, but they're stereotypes nonetheless. Strangely, I didn't feel that way about that other movie of theirs shot in Mississippi, O Brother. Maybe if that had been a marginal flick like this one, I wouldn't have been so charitable. Good review of what is indeed arguably the brothers’ weakest film. I think that the brothers use stereotypes to advantage in many a flick; problem with doing this is you sometimes step over the line. As a denizen of the deep south (currently Alabama, but formerly Mississippi where parts of the film were filmed) I thought this went over the edge, especially in its depiction of African Americans. (I’m thinking of Irma Hall, here). Not that they’re all negative stereotypes, mind you, but they’re stereotypes nonetheless.

Strangely, I didn’t feel that way about that other movie of theirs shot in Mississippi, O Brother. Maybe if that had been a marginal flick like this one, I wouldn’t have been so charitable.

]]>