Despite a riveting central performance from Irma Hall, an invigorating gospel soundtrack, and a few situations that echo the Coens' better works (Fargo, Raising Arizona or even The Hudsucker Proxy), Ladykillers is a would-be wacky romp that never develops the comic energy it so desparately needs to take off. It's remake that, like most remakes, falls flat despite many of the Coen brothers' usual elements of occasionally funny blowhards, visual gags, inventive camera work and florid language (a lot of the swearing was absolutely unnecessary). In fact, the movie just plain drags in the middle of its 100+ minutes. Tom Hanks is convincing as usual, but this is perhaps one of his oddest roles to date, a miscalculation from start to finish. One wonders what is becoming of the Coens, given other recent misfires such as Intolerable Cruelty. Skip this tripe, or rent it out when it's out there if you are a diehard Coens fan.