HAIL, CAESAR! (PG-13)
Released By Universal Pictures
Review By Adam Mast
We’ll start by stating the obvious: There are few voices in American cinema that are as distinct as the Coen Brothers. From the noir-influenced greatness of their debut, “Blood Simple” to the glorious lunacy at the center of RAISING ARIZONA, to the offbeat stoner-inspired hilarity of the cult hit, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, no one tells a story quite like film making siblings Joel and Ethan Coen. This is to say nothing of their award winners FARGO and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN or the countless gems in between (THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE, MILLER’S CROSSING, and O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?, just to name a few.)
One of my favorite Coen Brothers flicks is 1991’s BARTON FINK, a darkly hilarious look at Hollywood and a creatively genius cinematic metaphor for writer’s block. I only bring up BARTON FINK because the lively, endlessly quirky new comedy HAIL, CAESAR! sort of plays as a kindred spirit to that picture. HAIL, CAESAR! isn’t as dark as BARTON FINK, but that satirical edge is still on full display.
In HAIL, CAESAR!, movie producer Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) finds his already stressful life turned upside down when A-list movie star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) disappears from the set of a big budget, religious-tinged studio picture called, you guessed it, HAIL, CAESAR. Mannix already has enough on his plate. He’s tending to another turbulent production, dealing with the rigors of family life, having altercations with nagging members of the press, and fending off job offers from Lockheed, so Whitlock’s sudden vanishing act only elevates the reputable producer’s stress level to a fever pitch. Of course, Mannix is in the magical business of making movies, so he wouldn’t have it any other way.
HAIL, CAESAR! is an appropriately silly, sometimes dry, utterly rambunctious, and all together hilarious look at Hollywood, and while this satire takes a fair share of potshots at the movie industry, it is, in equal measure, a loving homage to the magic and importance of storytelling.
As shot by the brilliant cinematographer Roger Deakins, HAIL, CAESAR is one of the best looking movies of the Coen Brothers’ stellar career. From the old school film production recreations, to the Busby Berkeley-inspired musical numbers, to the nostalgic big studio back lot sets, this movie feels like the Hollywood of old.
Josh Brolin has been on a roll as of late (see his outstanding work in INHERENT VICE and SICARIO), and he hits all the right notes as Mannix. This is a man under extreme pressure but it’s that pressure that pushes him to rise to the challenge. Whether he’s taking input from religious types about the facts in a biblically themed epic motion picture, hiding a nasty habit from his wife, or putting spoiled actors and entitled filmmakers in their places, Mannix is the very personification of “in charge,” and Brolin perfectly conveys the strength of this character all while showing a hint of vulnerability just below the surface.
George Clooney appears to be having a blast as a hyper-real version of himself. As a big time movie star used to getting his way, Whitlock is quite shocked to find himself plucked from his playground and thrown into an entirely new environment. The identity of Whitlock’s kidnapper(s) is best left unsaid here (again, think satire), only to say that Clooney is clearly having a fun time and his final exchange with Brolin in particular is wholly appropriate.
HAIL, CAESAR! is populated by a spirited supporting cast, a cast that includes the likes of Scarlett Johannson, Ralph Fiennes, Alden Ehrenreich, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Jonah Hill, Alison Pill, Fisher Stevens, Clancy Brown, Robert Picardo, Wayne Knight, and the original HIGHLANDER himself, Christopher Lambert. As great as all of these supporting players are, it’s Channing Tatum who shines brightest as Burt Gurney, a movie star known primarily for his musical appearances. Coming off of what was a surprisingly lackluster turn in Quentin Tarantino’s lively, THE HATEFUL EIGHT, Tatum positively kills it in this picture. It’s a small part but he makes the most of it by way of unlimited energy and a sparkle in his eye. Furthermore, in HAIL, CAESAR!, Tatum is the focal point of one of the single most entertaining sequences the Coen Brothers have ever committed to film.
Where does HAIL, CAESAR! rank on the Coen Brothers sterling resume? It’s too early to tell because, as is the case with much of their work, Coen Brothers films tend to get better and take on more meaning with repeated viewings. What I can tell you is that I watched the majority of this picture with a great big smile on my face. The tone and sense of humor might not be for everyone, but there’s very little doubt that HAIL, CAESAR! is a true movie lover’s movie.
