HAIL, CAESAR REVIEWED
“Hail, Caesar” remains one of my favorite films of 2016. While heavily stylized and evoking the 1950s at every turn, the result is a picture not meant for a broad modern audience. Some have complained that the story of Eddie Mannix doesn’t make any sense or the film is too stylized at mini vignettes. Those naysayers are missing the point. In splitting the focus, the Coen Brothers create a near variety show of 1950s cinematic paranoia.
Egghead screenwriters threaten movies, all stars are possible Communists and the virgin stars of the screen are getting banged six ways to Sunday. Mannix remains the studio’s hand of God visiting their lives and trying to set things right. Brolin plays the straight man in a thankless role that will ultimately go ignored by year’s end. That being said, it has to be among his career’s best. I can’t wait to revisit the film on home video.
TIES TO OTHER COEN BROTHERS MOVIES
- Capitol Pictures is also the studio that employed Barton Fink.
