Nothing really happens.

Rating: 5/10 (19 April 2019)

As a fan of the Coen Brothers work, I have to admit to being a little let down by this entry. To me, this film was love letter to Hollywood that seemed to forget to have an actual story around the various odes to classic cinema that surrounds it. There are some attempted funny moments, and the film sure is gorges to look at, as one would expect from something put together from Roger Deakins. It does for sure make itself highly respectful to that golden age Hollywood scene, capturing all the magic and the wonder that was in cinema at that time, and I always enjoy peeking behind the curtian to see the inner makings. We also have a large cast of good actors attempting to make it all work.
Where this film falls flat is all down to the writing. Basically, there is no story to this movie, at least, not a very good or memorable one, it does not get above the flash, it always loses flair. There are attempts to make commentary on the red threat which was big in Hollywood at that time, but they really do nothing with it, and all the odes feel quite forced and shoved in. It is all very surface.
This is a well made movie. A well acted movie. Basically everything in this movie works except the storytelling, which needs to be strong, to a certain level, for it all to bookend.