After all the glitz and glamour of Oscars, and last week’s delve into the dark times 1950s through our review of Trumbo, the Coen Brothers’ Hail Caesar is another examination of the Hollywood machine, but one that takes aim toward the farcical side of the industry’s ‘Golden Years’.
Following what is assumed to be a typical ‘day in the life’ of film studio executive Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), we follow the charismatic, charming and intelligent boss as he wrangles talent and solves problems around the lot. This leaves barely any time for his own personal struggles – a problem only exacerbated when their star actor, Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), is kidnapped for no clear reason.
Balancing this with some very 1950s issues is a cast-a-plenty of interesting, whimsical characters all of whom have concerns of their own: Actress DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson) is pregnant out of wedlock, and Director Laurence Laurentz (Ralph Fiennes) is having to accommodate a terrible actor for his new dramatic picture. All of these are their own problems that, inevitably, become problems for Mannix as well.
If you are familiar with the work of the Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona) you’ll understand the tone of this movie. It’s light-hearted and a little bit off-beat, but utlitses such technical prowess in cinematography and skill in dialogue writing that you can’t help but enjoy it. The casting is on point (also featuring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill) and the plot certainly doesn’t go the way that you’d expect.
What will separate audiences is the laissez-faire nature of this film. It essentially wafts in and out through the narrative. Some things happen and then fade away, not leaving you with any sense of purpose or real drama, no matter how much it’s glitzed up with glam. However, this is balanced by immensely entertaining sequences, clever film techniques (including movies within the movie) and subtle, quick fire jokes that were funnier than anything in Zoolander 2.
Time will tell how this film will be received. It’s certainly a lot of fun, tongue-in-cheek at points, extremely clever, but yet lacks something special that has made the Coen Brothers some of Hollywood’s favourite filmmakers.
Structurally, Hail Caesar is not a standard three-act movie. It comes and goes, telling a few scattered stories before the credits finally roll. Luckily it’s a pleasant-enough ride, and the Coen Brothers’ fans won’t be disappointed.
Unfortunately, almost everyone else will.
Now Showing at Palace Electric
