Touchstone Pictures
Starring: Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans, J.K. Simmons
Directed by: Ethan & Joel Coen
Synopsis: A remake of the 1955 British comedy. A ragtag group of thieves are brought together by a scheming, eloquent man named Professor G.H. Dorr (Tom Hanks) who has a plan to steal a large amount of money from a riverboat casino. To pull off the scheme, Professor Dorr rents a room from an elderly Southern woman named Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall) whose basement is the perfect starting point for a tunnel leading to the casino’s underground vault.
Cinema Cat: Marva Munson owns a cat named Pickles which figures very prominently throughout the film. Pickles seems to be making a constant bid for freedom and bolts out the door the minute Professor Dorr arrives (it’s clear from the start that Pickles does not like Marva’s new tenant.)
Throughout the film Pickles hangs around the thieves as they plot and plan. He even causes difficulties for them along the way, almost as if to thwart their plans. And the final scene of the film is Pickles alone and completely steals the show. This remake had mixed reviews, mostly because its style of comedy is so far removed from the original, but overall it has the Coen’s unique style and feel and is definitely worth a look, if only to watch Pickles shine on screen.
Final Mewsings: The best thing this remake has going for it is the addition of Pickles the cat.
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