Hail, Caesar!

Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Frances McDormand.

Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen

Written by: Joel and Ethan Coen

Reviewed by: Joshua Ochoa

[rating:4/5]

Joel and Ethan Coen are masters of cinema and even on a slow day they’re better than most. Hail, Caesar! is their latest film and it is jam packed with star power. Josh Brolin leads with George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Frances McDormand in supporting roles. That’s not including all the really small roles full of countless actors you’re likely to have seen on television and in other films. The film follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix (Brolin), a Hollywood fixer in the 1950’s. Throughout this day he has to deal with a kidnapped star (Clooney), a pregnancy cover up (Johansson), annoying reporters (Swinton) and a big decision he must make up his mind about by the next day.

This is first and foremost a massive ode to Old Hollywood, a time and place that the Coens absolutely adore. Hollywood in the 50’s is perfectly captured in this film with wonderful production design, costuming, and gorgeously old school cinematography from Roger Deakins. They used many bygone techniques and my goodness is it one of the most crisp and clean movies shot on film that I have even seen.

But not only is it an ode of Old Hollywood but it’s also a satire on the film business both past and present. It has a lot to say about the studio system, art vs business and even delves into religion while it’s at it. But, even with all of its subtext it doesn’t forget to be really entertaining. This film is filled with wit, humour, quirky characters and the Coen’s offbeat sensibilities and mix of nihilism and hope. It’s not an outright laugh riot but if you know even a little bit about filmmaking you’ll find even more things to laugh about.

Hail, Caesar! is just a great example of good filmmaking. From the writing, to filmmaking and acting. Josh Brolin is wonderful in the leading role and the rest of the cast is wonderful too. They all do the Old Hollywood style of acting well; sure it’s over the top compared to today’s more naturalistic style but that doesn’t make the performances any less special. I also think this could be a breakout film for new comer Alden Ehrenreich.

The Coen’s have made a few masterpieces and though I don’t think Hail, Caesar! is one of them it’s still really good. Films like this one don’t get made anymore in this day and age so it’s pretty special when we get something like this and even better when it’s pretty great.