Would that it were so simple. In the modern age of cinema the Coen brothers have brought us a unique taste of filmmaking that we haven't seen before. Films like "Fargo", "Barton Fink", "The Big Lebowski" and "No Country For Old Men" are all some of the finest works of cinema in recent memory as the Coens cemented themselves as one of the best directors of our time. And now in 2016, they dynamic duo are back with a story set in the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1950s. With an all-star cast and frequent collaborator Roger Deakins helming the cinematography, many of us film lovers were excited to see this seemingly funny tale. The official trailers were met with positive reviews from audiences and garnered much attention from those who live and breathe cinema. And what did we think of their latest film endeavor?
"Hail, Caesar!" stars an ensemble cast, including Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Channing Tatum, and is directed by the Coen brothers. Set in 1950s Hollywood, a Hollywood "fixer" Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) discovers that Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), the star of the film-within-a-film "Hail, Caesar!", was kidnapped by a group of people calling themselves The Future. The race begins as Mannix tries to retrieve his missing movie star as he tries to get the film, "Hail, Caesar!", completed. Although not a masterpiece, I am pleased to say that the Coens are back at it again with another odd, funny, meaningful and provocative piece. With some of the funniest scenes I've seen in quite some time, the Coens' wit and sharpness bleeds through every scene of the film.
One of the great things "Hail, Caesar!" has going for it is its amazing cast that, as mentioned before, includes Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Channing Tatum, who all deliver great performances.
Josh Brolin is definitely no stranger to the Coens' directing style and therefore gives probably one of the best performances of his career. While it is not as dramatic or as big as other roles he has taken on in his career, he completely disappears into the character of Eddie Mannix. Not once in the film did I see Josh Brolin, I only saw Eddie Mannix. His little mannerisms, charm, wit, likability and toughness are all things that made him stand out in this ensemble cast. I am certain that Brolin will be nominated for several awards for his hilarious portrayal of this new character and I hope that the Academy or other award shows will recognize his performance.
When you hear the phrase "movie star", George Clooney is one of those names that would pop up in everyones minds because of his charm and persona. Coincidentally, Clooney's movie-star-like persona carries into his role of movie star Baird Whitlock. Clooney's character in the film is definitely a nod to the Kirk Douglas or Charlton Heston leading men types who have played Biblical characters in epic classics during the 1950s. The Coens' love for the era and the era's actors really does show in this lovably gullible yet charming character that is played to near perfection by Clooney. Just terrific casting.
By far, the best scene in the film involves director Laurence Laurentz (Ralph Fiennes), trying desperately to make an actor who is mostly known for playing cowboys, Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich), to appropriately say his lines in Laurentz's film. Fiennes has proven his comedic chops in 2014's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and he continues to shine in "Hail, Caesar!" with his elegant British nature. And to oppose him, Alden Ehrenreich's dumb yet charming personality he gives to Hobie Doyle is just fantastic to watch. Chipper, pleasant and always enthusiastic, Ehrenreich arguing with Fiennes over a simple line read was just absolutely hysterical.
Putting the black skin-tight suit from "The Avengers" aside, Scarlett Johnasson portrays "aquamusical" actress, DeeAnna Moran, in "Hail, Caesar!", who shines in the film's most beautifully shot and executed scene. While her role in the film is rather minimal, Johansson leaves you with a big impression with her impeccable beauty and her excellent comedic timing.
We've all seen Channing Tatum dance in films like "Step Up" and "Magic Mike" but we've never actually seen him sing. Well, in "Hail, Caesar!", the Coen brothers put him to good use and made him sing and tap dance in a big musical number in the middle of the film. Like Johansson, his role in the film is small, but Tatum leaves us with a big smile on our faces and makes the scenes he is in some of the most memorable moments in all of "Hail, Caesar!".
With Roger Deakins handling the cinematography for the film, you can expect "Hail, Caesar!" to be excellently shot with beautiful camera angles that mirror how movies of the 1950s were filmed. The beautiful landscapes of the Hollywood studios and the homages to the many musical numbers and epic films were just gorgeous to look at. The Coen brothers' eye for capturing incredible shots and unusual [and most religious] visuals has never been stronger here. Almost every single technical aspect of the film is done to perfection. The visuals and the music, composed by Carter Burwell, complimented each other beautifully in this gorgeous looking film.
However, with all that said, the one and only issue I have with the film is its narrative, which does suffer from odd pacing choices. The film will travel from one funny scene into a dramatic scene into another talking about the meaning of man and social economics then back to funny without a moment's notice. That isn't something that's completely unusual for the Coen brothers, however I wish the film could have handled the change of tone a little smoother so that we as the audience have time to breathe in between scenes.
Overall, "Hail, Caesar!" is not only hilarious, but carries a very important message about Hollywood and the film industry as a whole. It is heavy in its themes but never forces it down your throat. The Coens present us with the film that poses questions and points fingers while not making direct accusations, which I do admire. "Hail, Caesar!" is a beautiful shot, brilliantly acted, well executed and wholly original Hollywood satire that you should see in theaters immediately. I'd give the film an 8.5 out of 10.
Go see it in theaters today!
