A Happy Hail to the Coens; not their best but very enjoyable

Rating: 8/10 (10 February 2016)

Hollywood in the Fifties is a never-ending grind if you are Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin). As the go-to guy for Capitol Movie Studios, Eddie has many a tangle to smooth. First, the studios need a "star" replacement for an elegant period piece but the only one available is singing cowboy Hobie (Alden Ehrenreich). Although the head honcho insists on this substitute, poor Hobie is a stretch for the role, irritating famed director Lawrence Laurents (Ralph Fiennes). Then, water ballet film star DeeAnna (Scarlet Johansson) is a divorcée with a big problem; she's pregnant and unmarried. But these two issues are small peanuts when handsome major actor Baird (George Clooney) gets kidnapped before his final big scene in a Biblical epic Hail Caesar. In addition, Lockheed Air is after Eddie, too, as his managerial skills are priceless. Ransom is set at $100,000. Amid twin sister gossip writers (Tilda Swinton) breathing over Mannix's shoulder, a cutting room editor (Frances McDormand) smoking and choking, Baird's hoped-for return, and Eddie's daily trips to confession, will the show go on at Capitol Studios? This clever, interesting and funny film is not the Coens best but still very enjoyable. The cast is the major asset, with Brolin on top as the man who keeps it all running. Johansson, McDormand, Clooney, Fiennes, Swinton, Jonah Hill, Ehrenreich, Channing Tatum and ALL of the rest are just fantastic. The recreation of the Fifties is also superb in costumes, sets, themes, sight gags, send-ups, and more. Finally, as the principal writers and directors, the Coens are worthy of much praise for their risk taking ventures, even when it all doesn't QUITE result in matchless film making. A Happy Hail to the Coens, absolutely. May they never cease crafting their works until its impossible for them to move.