The Case for Caesar Salad

The latest Coen Brothers movie, Hail Caesar, may not win many awards, but for lovers of films and Hollywood of the 50s and 60s, the film is a visual treat.

And if you like seeing Scarlett Johannson play a vamp, George Clooney stare in awe, Channing Tatum tap dance (not my cuppa, but he certainly does it with style), and Tilda Swinton stealing every scene she is in, then this film is definitely for you.

Of course, the break out actor is none of these: Alden Ehrenreich as straight forward cowboy hero Hobie is the real star of this movie, despite not being the central character.  His interactions with precious director Laurence Laurent (Ralph Feinnes) are hilarious, and his super clean cut image (and mop of well curled hair) scream a well meaning Western star, and he pulls of the character with panache and hilarity.

But Hobie is just background.  The main story follows Mannix (Josh Brolin) trying to deal with the main stars of his studio, with their secret scandals and kidnappings and attempts to put them into other films.  Trumbo showed the darker side of the real studio system; Hail Caesar treats everything with love and respect but is not afraid to send it all up mercilessly, especially (and most notably) in the scene between the different religious leaders debating the representation of The Christ in the studio’s latest sword and sandals epic.

The story is actually fairly slight, looking back on it, and mainly serve to allow the storytellers to move from one big Hollywood set piece to another: an epic roman orgy, an aquatic fantasy, a tap dancing movie musical.  

And that shouldn’t really matter as that is, in the end, the point.  Its all about love, with an acknowledgement of the absurdity of it all.  And it makes for a wonderful movie.

Verdict: Hail Caesar! is a visual feast full of amazing stars and incredible performances.  Its not quite up there with the Coen brothers best work, but its definitely a damned fine film.  8 feathers out of 10.