Master Filmmaking Duo Has One Comedy That Deserves A Brighter Spotlight

While Hail, Caesar! may not have gained the same notoriety as some of the Coen’s other beloved films, it’s rather shocking that the film is being essentially lost to time. It packs a tight runtime, an interesting plot, and a star-studded cast that is sure to draw eyes toward any streaming service that would have the Hollywood satire.

Hail, Caesar!, which serves as something of a love letter to old Hollywood, centers on a studio “fixer” named Eddie Mannix, who is tasked with reigning in the big egos of filmmakers and screens actors alike for the good of the almighty dollar. This entails covering up scandals before they break to the public, sobering up performers who can’t make it to set, and managing gossip narratives around town.

When the film first begins, Mannix is assigned to sort out scandals that would be positively uninteresting by today’s tabloid standards, but would surely sink the careers of Hollywood players in the early 1950s.

These scandals include an unmarried A-list actress who has become pregnant, a country Western star absolutely fumbling in a sophisticated dramatic role, and a Communist plot to kidnap and brainwash the lead actor of a film titled Hail, Caesar! A Tale of the Christ.

As the film builds to a hilarious climax, Mannix somehow manages to cross all of these unrelated events into one another harmoniously, showcasing his proficiency in his bizarre role.

Hail, Caesar!‘s comedy is certainly worth the price of admission, though the film’s main selling point is its absolutely stacked ensemble of performers. If I tried to rattle off every massive star in this film, we’d be here all day, so let’s just leave it at Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, and the always scene-stealing Scarlett Johansson.

Though some of these actors have very brief screen time in the star-studded affair, each of them are utilized perfectly, with a number of over-the-top set-pieces designed to wow the audience and leave you scrambling for the rewind button.

GFR SCORE

Personally, I loved Hail, Caesar! back when it first came out, and I’d love to be able to watch the movie again today. Unfortunately, the execs in charge of stocking the streaming libraries seem to be slacking on this film, for reasons that surely elude any cinema fan of sound mind. Regardless, if you’re interested in checking out Hail, Caesar! today, be sure to scour the DVD bins at your local retailers, or try purchasing a digital copy from online media stores such as Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.