Hail, Caesar! and the Coen Brothers

My first "movie review" of sorts.

I went to see Hail, Caesar! this weekend because it looked like a fun movie about 50s movies.  I have to say it was, and it wasn't.  (*Minor Spoiler*)  I thought it was going to be about the kidnapping of George Clooney's star actor from a Roman epic.  It really wasn't.  It's more about a day in the life of Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) a Hollywood "fix it" man.  Which leads to the other problem.

Looking at the cast list, you'd think it would be a can't miss.  The problem is most of the stars are in only a couple of scenes.  As I was watching a movie I thought, "fine, so they'll all meet up some way in the end."  I was wrong there too.  So really it's a series of completely separate short stories whose only connection is Josh Brolin somehow in the middle.  Even this may have worked, but it really fell flat.  Oh, and if you don't like Jonah Hill don't worry, he's only in one scene for about two minutes.  A glorified cameo (but yet he has top billing for some reason).

So what does work?  Not much.  Josh Brolin is fine.  Alden Ehrenreich is pretty good.  Ralph Fiennes is great.  Tilda Swinton is pretty good.  Frances McDormand as well.  And that's part of the problem, all of these actors who only have a couple of scenes steal them and leave you wanting more.

I do like that they basically touch on every major genre from the 50s.  Even the Esther Williams-type "aquamusicals," though I thought that scene went on a bit too long. 

What about the kidnapping?  (*Spoilers ahead*)  Turns out it's a big Commie conspiracy.  Ok, fine, whatever.  It's a side story that basically does very little.  Again, it's not the main story, as the trailers made you think.

The other thing that I really did not like?  (*Major spoiler*)  George Clooney's final speech as the repentant Roman soldier at the foot of the Cross.  I actually was getting into it.  I thought it was good, a basically touch on the major point of the Crucifixion.  Then they made it into a joke.  Really?  That left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

So overall I gave it a 6 out of 10 on IMDB.  It has some good parts, but largely it's forgettable.

Now, I'm not a huge Coen Brothers fan.  I think they have some good movies and some stinkers.  Below is a brief comment on those I've seen:

Fargo (1996): I finally saw this last year.  I really liked it.  Yes, they kind of make fun of Midwesterners, but in a way I found endearing.  9/10

The Big Lebowski (1998):  I don't get the appeal of this movie.  A couple of funny scenes, I guess, but overall boring.  And I can't stand "The Dude."  5/10

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000):  Again, I don't really get the appeal of this movie.  It's fine, I guess, but nothing special.  6/10

The Ladykillers (2004):  Largely forgettable.  6/10

No Country for Old Men (2007):  Yes, Javier Bardem is good.  The rest I didn't care for.  6/10

Burn After Reading (2008):  Probably my favorite Coen Brothers movie.  There are so many random funny parts that get me, particularly with Brad Pitt.  8/10

True Grit (2010):  A very good movie, but not really like them.  I would have a hard time picking between this and Fargo which is their best movie.  9/10

Hail, Caesar! (2016):  See above.  6/10