Review of Hail, Caesar! (2016) by Bttrmovies — 06 Feb 2016

FIVE SENTENCE REVIEW:

Let me start by saying that not everyone will love "Hail, Caesar" - in fact I would imagine the split will be pretty 50-50 between really adoring it and full blown hating it. This is something that I think the Coen Brothers do well, though; a lot of my friends and family can't really stand them and unless you are in the mindset of watching one of their movies it can be a real chore to get through. So now that the warning is out of the way, I'll say that I really enjoyed this movie, with a cast that seems to be having fun, a love letter to the "golden age" of Hollywood, and a movie that pokes holes into what that era - which provided many classics - really meant for those who worked in it. Josh Brolin shines as the lead in this film and becomes the boss and manager of the crazy cast of people on the film set for the imaginary company he runs, and he brisks through the movie at a break neck pace that could come off as lazy writing but is done so well that it helps define the character. Most roles here outside of Brolin and perhaps Clooney really come off more as cameos, but they are done well and weave together rather effortlessly, making it an enjoyable and short watch.

FULL LENGTH REVIEW:

As I sat in the theater waiting for this movie to begin, I got myself ready. There are a few directors I have to do this with. Wes Anderson, Charlie Kaufman, and the Coens instantly come to mind. I knew I was about to see something with characters who are so well defined yet seem to ridiculous and over the top that they could not possibly exist in the real world. And despite this, they feel so fleshed out and real that they must exist in more than just the mind of the writer. But preparing myself for this and being met with it become two different things, as I don't think anyone can ever really be completely ready for a Coen Brothers film.

"Hail, Caesar," named after the epic being filmed at the studio where the film takes place, is really a satirical love letter to the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, where film studios were run like factories and movie after movie were churned out on the assembly line and put on the silver screen. Hollywood felt like a world completely removed from reality, although that probably still is true to a certain degree. At the center of this studio kingdom is Eddie Mannix, played wonderfully by Josh Brolin. Brolin brings a bravado and calm handle to the film that it really needs, as the rest of it seems to be filled with overly eccentric and out of control directors and actors.

Mannix is thrown for a loop, however, when the lead of his big epic being filmed (played in an effective if not a little too airheaded manner by George Clooney) is kidnapped. Mannix, while dealing with all the other problems being presented around his studio, must quietly resolve this or risk losing total control of his studio. The story, which features a lot of moving parts and a cast made up almost entirely of cameos (Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johannson, and Channing Tatum are in the movie for the briefest of moments - although they are done well), seems like it is complicated but in reality is quite simple. Mannix is simply a studio head/fixer, who is trying to keep his machine running as smoothly as possible.

Under this story is a deep love letter to classic Hollywood, complete with the film archetypes of the era. Musicals, dance movies, epic movies, Westerns, and Broadway adaptations all get screen time as the movie moves through the studio. Stars have exclusive deals that keep them tied to the whims of the studio, and all troubles are swept under the rug to keep their stars looking innocent and pristine. It is in this vein, however, that it also plays out as a sort of satire. Writers are shown to be mainly Communists, the studio heads abuse their stars and control everyone, and the winning religion - which plays well hand in hand with the fictitious "Hail, Caesar" being filmed in the movie - is the film studio. It becomes a little heavy handed at times, and the writing can be a little too dense in some areas, although that is something that goes through many recent Coen Brothers comedies.

The movie, despite some shortcomings and potentially wasted talents, is very effective. The real scene stealer here may be relative newcomer Alden Ehrenreich, who plays a young Western star forced into more serious roles despite being a less than proficient actor. His naive attitude and dedication to the studio and director really shines, and played to near perfection by the young actor. All in all, this movie is fun, lighthearted, humorous, and a well done satirical love letter to classic Hollywood. If you like the Coen Brothers, you will like this movie. If you liked "The Artist," you will like this movie, despite some shortcomings.

I give Hail, Caesar a B.