At first glance, "Hail, Caesar!" is a movie about making movies and the crazy circus that goes on behind set doors. Told in a colorful comedic satire, set in 1950's Hollywood, from four-time Oscar-winning filmakers Joel and Ethan Coen's "Hail, Caesar!" is one of a kind, delivering hilarious screens from veteran actors and actresses, all the while keeping an unspeakable political secret right in the heart of Hollywood.
Josh Brolin is Eddie Manix, a Hollywood 'fixer' tasked to make sure production is on schedule and that the studio's stars stay away from scandalous headlines. It is interesting to note that there was a real Eddie Manix who was an American film studio and executive producer. Like his on-screen persona, the real-life Mannix disguised details of the star's private life to maintain a clean public image, remember this was 1950 and they were definitely no Kardashians here.
Hail, Caesar! Is a colorful comedy with a dash of Golden Age Hollywood Razzle-Dazzle, complete with a singing and tap-dancing, sailor clad Channing Tatum, a mermaid Queen Scarlett Johanssen, an over-the-top cowboy in Alden Ehrenreich (you might have seen him last in "Beautiful Creatures") and of course, the eponymous Caesar himself, the studio's biggest star, the impressionable Baird Whitlock, played by George Clooney.
The film opens with a 'day in the life' of Eddie Mannix as he goes around Capitol Pictures, solving one crisis after the other, but probably the most challenging one is when Baird Whitlock is abducted by a mysterious group called 'The Future'.
Now it falls on the 'Hollywood Fixer's' shoulders to make sure Baird returns safety, all the while escaping the clutches of gossip columnists and identical twin sisters (as if dealing with one isn't enough) Thora and Thessaly Thacker, both played by Tilda Swinton.
I really enjoyed the set production, the costumes and the song and dance numbers in the film. Kudos to the respective departments handling these, it was authentic and really gave the feel of 1950's Hollywood. I know that there has been many changes over the years, with the rise of Public Relations handling the news worthy and/or gossip surrounding today's celebrities and it was nice to be acquainted with a more conservative Hollywood. Its also surprising to know how much studios get involved in the personal lives of their prized stars.
You might get confused, (I was at first) about the underlying political themes in the movie. I was only able to grasp at what was going on due to my knowledge of the upcoming movie Trumbo's plot. So you guys might want to read up on that first before seeing the movie.
While I was really impressed with the set design, the costumes and the production numbers, I felt that the comedy was a little flat, don't get me wrong I did laugh in a number of scenes but not as much as I thought that I would.
7 out of 10 Stars. Hail, Caesar! is still a Coen Brothers experience you should catch in the cinema. Although it did lack the humor it initially marketed, the impressive, interesting and colorful characters make up for it. With an all-star ensemble portraying characters they normally wouldn't- (over-paid, spoiled celebrities), Hail Caesar! is an interesting historical and socio-political film, which you don't have to take too seriously. That's where the genius of the Coen Brothers comes in, they find humor in what could be dark themes. You leave the cinema feeling light and happy but you have also stumbled on a film rich in topics your teachers would have you writing a paper about.
"Hail, Ceasar!" cinexclusively shows in SM Cinema on March 16 onward. For ticket inquiries or more information log on to www.smcinema.com
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