Should you watch this on weekdays? Yes.
Should you watch this on weekends? If you enjoy classic films, yes.
Score: 3.75/5
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 106 minutes (~2 hours)
“Hail, Caesar!” is a mystery comedy about 1950s Hollywood “fixer” Eddie Mannix. It centres around his investigation of the disappearance of actor Baird Whitlock and his daily shenanigans. It stars Josh Brolin (Eddie Mannix), George Clooney (Baird Whitlock), Alden Ehrenreich (Hobie Doyle), Ralph Fiennes (Laurence Laurentz), Jonah Hill (Joseph Silverman), Scarlett Johansson (DeeAnna Moran), Frances McDormand (C. C. Calhoun), Tilda Swinton (Thora and Thessaly Thacker), Channing Tatum (Burt Gurney), and Christopher Lambert (Arne Slessum). It is, surprisingly, only rated PG.
“Hail, Caesar!” recreates the look and feel of old Hollywood films, but with the pacing and treatment of today’s movies. It results in a nostalgic mood with none of the cheesiness or melodrama of that era. Combined with a witty script and a talented cast, it’s surprisingly accessible, even if you weren’t a fan of the 50s. It entertains without taking itself too seriously, and plays out much better than its premise would have you think.
Highlights
Josh Brolin’s portrayal of Eddie Mannix
Eddie Mannix goes about his sometimes unsavoury duties with a charmingly professional demeanour. Yet Josh Brolin manages to show us the man behind Eddie Mannix, with all his foibles and weaknesses. He gives us a good performance of the Everyman thrust into a job that’s far from ordinary.
Film industry stereotypes
The supporting characters are cast brilliantly, and showcase the wide spectrum of idiosyncratic actors that we’ve all seen or heard about. The film also pokes fun at production stereotypes, but it’s not the usual scathing mockery of the industry. It’s more of a tribute to the iconic features of old Hollywood, with the intention to entertain rather than to disparage.
Measured sense of zaniness
“Hail, Caesar!” has a good balance of fun and realism, with its over the top villains but straightforward protagonist. While many of the characters live in their own little world, it doesn’t go so far as to portray them as deluded, and there’s always a sensible person to pull them back. Its comedy comes from its larger than life situations, which are usually resolved using down to earth solutions.
Depiction of the 50s
As with all representations of that era, the sense of innocence and simplicity pervades the film. But the corruption and scandals are never far from the surface, and are always just a few steps from erupting into public visibility, if not for the efforts of Eddie Mannix. It’s a good departure from other representations of the 50s, because it doesn’t carry that naivete which usually comes with innocence, and shows us that both corruption and simplicity can co-exist.
Letdowns
Sprawling cast
While the cast fit their characters perfectly, there are so many supporting characters that you never get enough of any one of them. The film could have dropped some of the gag characters and focused more on the intriguing ones, allowing us to get to know them better and building a deeper emotional resonance with the movie.
“Hail, Caesar!” is a loving tribute to the films of the past that makes use of modern cinema styles.
“Hail, Caesar!” opens in cinemas 10 March, 2016 (Thursday).
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