‘Hail Caesar’ is Coen Brothers’ funny with too much chaos
The Coen Brothers are back, blending comedy and Hollywood “history” into an entertaining jaunt with an all-star cast. Sadly, entertaining doesn’t always translate with audiences and Hail, Caesar! is a scattered, chaotic flurry of ideas which are amusing, but not always hilarious.
Josh Brolin stars as a 1950s Hollywood “fixer” trying to put out fires and keeping the press out of the latest scandals: the kidnapping of Capitol Pictures’ biggest star Baird Whitlock, played by George Clooney. The fill-in is a subpar replacement named Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich) who can’t act worth a lick, Scarlett Johansson plays a diva who reveals an unexpected pregnancy and the studios is trying to protect their millions of dollars and reputation which is at stake.
Intertwined into the frenzy is a flurry of cameos and series of isolated moments which do deliver some laughs and smiles.
Frances McDormand is fantastic as a chain-smoking editor and Tilda Swinton’s twin gossip columnists proved to be perfect fuel for Brolin’s confusion. Ralph Fiennes’ with Ehrenreich’s character, trying to deliver eloquent dialogue during a party was a great scene.
The scenes don’t really thread together well and Brolin appears after a dance sequence leaving us behind a few steps. The same could be said between Clooney appearances. There is too much chaos, too many cameos and not enough of the Coen Brothers’ drama to keep it grounded. Labor union and the Hollywood system isn’t a storyline given enough time to care about and drug down the tone of the film.
Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Wayne Knight, and Ian Blackman have roles.
Overall Hail, Caesar! receives 3 1/2 out out 5 stars