A Mild Coen Brothers Offering, But Fun Nonetheless

Rating: 7/10 (7 February 2016)

I consider myself a Coen Brothers fan, as I've seen a majority of their films, new and old, and haven't found one yet I didn't like. "Hail, Ceasar!" is certainly not a new favorite of mine, but I found myself quite entertained by it as a whole.
The first problem with "Hail, Ceasar!", I'd say, is how it was advertised. Trailers made it seem like much more of a comedic noir, where Josh Brolin's character tries to solve the mystery of George Clooney's kidnapping. In reality, that's only a portion of the whole package. The film is more centered on showing a day in the life of Eddie Mannix (Brolin), a studio fixer in golden-age Hollywood solving a number of issues with several films, the kidnapping only being one of several. This makes the movie feel like it lacks a true central plot and conflict, and can seem rambling at times. It's less of a cohesive film rather than a collection of scenes and moments. That said, the great ensemble cast, solid direction, and fun dialogue makes the film an entertaining one nonetheless. It's not one of the Coens' best, but it isn't a bad edition to the catalog.