Review of Hail, Caesar! (2016) by Adam R — 25 Mar 2016

What's interesting about the Coen brothers is how varied their filmography is. For in between their huge epics like Fargo and No Country for Old Men, they provide us with the occasional "breather movie", as in a film that doesn't carry a lot of weight but still can serve as a perfectly acceptable time waster. That actually sounds much harsher than it really is. Truthfully, this is a solid little film that benefits from the Coens sharp direction and editing, excellent casting (with a special shout-out to Channing Tatum and Scarlet Johansson), and clever jokes. In the end however, it's doubtful that you'll be clamoring to see it again anytime soon after. Through and through, this film is about 50s Hollywood (the "Golden Age" as it's called), paying homage to the many genres and actors popular at the time. Fans of cinema will definitely appreciate the attention to detail and nods to classic movies, but it will likely be lost on mainstream audiences. In short, this is harmless fluff, but it's masterfully created harmless fluff.

Who'd like it? Cinephiles and movie lovers will certainly be drawn to it. Even fans of the Coens style will take something from it, but that's about it.