‘Hail, Caesar!’: Hail, the Coen Brothers

Published 7:18 pm Sunday, February 7, 2016

“Hail, Caesar!” (Period Comedy: 1 hour, 46 minutes)

Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes and Channing Tatum

Director: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, violence and suggestive content)

Movie Review: A funny movie that pays homage to a 1950s Hollywood while spoofing the industry’s stars simultaneously.

The movie starts with efforts of the studio’s chief executive for production, Eddie Mannix (Brolin), to manage his major stars and act as their fixer. He must deal with the abduction of Baird Whitlock (Clooney), the most prominent actor of Capitol Pictures Studios, working on a major production called “Hail, Ceasar!”

Mannix must also deal with DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson). She has become a unwed pregnant mother. This would not be good for her image and Capitol Studio’s integrity. Meanwhile, Mannix wants to broaden the image of singing cowboy Hobie Doyle (Ehrenreich), who is now assigned to work on a film with famed director Laurence Laurentz (Fiennes), who finds Doyle’s talents seriously lacking. Burt Gurney (Channing Tatum), a Gene Kelly-type actor, is a superb dancer, and he also has a secret life off screen.

As Mannix deals with these crises, he must also deal with gossip column sisters, Thora and Thessaly Thacker (both played by Tilda Swinton). The sisters are constantly at Mannix’s door asking questions. More important, they have insider knowledge that worries Mannix. While contemplating taking another position with a major corporation, Mannix must deal with many situations at Capitol Pictures Studio and the media.

For people who have seen the movies of the 1950s, “Hail, Caesar!” captures the nature of those films in a potent manner. This is the nature of the Coen Brothers. They know how to make creative entertainment that also has an intellectual component. It is notable when acknowledging their previous works, such as “Fargo” (1996), “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000), which starred Clooney, “No Country for Old Men” (2007), and “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013).

The Coens also know how to create laughs with words and visual elements. The combination works and gives these actors, many of whom have small roles, memorable characterizations. The biggest plus of this film is its large talented cast. Each person is a pivotal part, and the cast acts its roles with an energetic zeal.

Brolin works as a tough chief executive. Clooney is hilariously funny, charming audiences as usual. Ehrenreich fits his role well like he came straight from the 1950s. Fiennes fits as a refined director. His scenes with Ehrenreich are superb elements of comedy. And Frances McDormand steals the movie as film editor C.C. Calhoun. Her brief scene is a worthy moment, despite its brevity.

Characterizations are the best part of this comedy. A very large cast present nice performances. The Coen Brothers direct them nicely, providing a good cinematic experience.

The complex story may seem wayward at times, but all comes together to form an agreeable movie. The Coens deliver a post-war Hollywood movie that works. It is an engaging comic nod to yesteryear’s entertainment.

Grade: B+ (Hail, The Coen Brothers!)

“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” (Action/Horror: 1 hour, 47 minutes)

Starring: Lily James, Sam Riley, Bella Heathcote, Douglas Booth and Charles Dance

Director: Burr Steers

Rated: PG-13 (Violence and action scenes and brief suggestive material)

Movie Review: Zombie movies are as prevalent on the big screen as they are on television. This one nicely combines the works of Jane Austen’s classic 19th century tale of relationships between lovers from different social classes in England and an army of the undead. The mix is creative and oddly intriguing.

The people of England are now facing a crisis with the magnitude of the Black Plague. Zombies are a major threat to England. The undead are ravaging the lands of England. The living have secured themselves, or they think they have. They soon learn some of the zombies have an organized intellect.

Several noble and middle-class families fight to survive. Fighting the war against zombies are Elizabeth Bennet (James), a trained fighter, Col. Darcy (Riley), a nobleman and warrior. Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s sister, Jane (Heathcote), falls for a handsome, wealthy man, Mr. Bingley (Booth). Love will have to wait. Zombies are a major threat, and they care nothing about love.

Burr Steers (“Igby Goes Down,” 2002) directs this action film. He helms an attractive and talented cast. Just when the overload of zombie movies are getting boring, Steers directs and writes this charming piece that works. It draws you in with all of the good quirks of soap opera then delivers action scenes that should entertain the rest.

While romance may be a part of this screenplay, it prominently features zombies continuously entering the picture. Both work well together in the manner in which they are presented. Surprisingly, it works.

The cast is filled with beautiful people, and they make their roles tangible. James, Riley, Heathcote and Booth are enticing here. They make the movie watchable even when it appears to comically wander. A few scenes concentrate too much on action while the story is reduced, taking a back seat to makeup designs and killing zombie action sequences. However, some of the nuances work as they make this amusing horror film similar to a B-movie.

Steers does a good job controlling his cast, the set designs and the frightful moments. All come together to form a worthy seductive tale.

Grade: B- (Walking dead entertains again.)

“The Choice” (Drama/Romance: 1 hour, 51 minutes)

Starring: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Tom Welling and Tom Wilkinson

Director: Ross Katz

Rated: PG-13 (Brief violence, sexual content, brief violence and thematic elements)

Movie Review: The screenplay by Bryan Sipe is based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, who serves as a producer of this romance.

When you see Sparks’ name, one can automatically assume they are about to see a lackluster romance with bad acting, casting and poorly scripted words. “The Choice” holds true again.

Veterinarian Travis Shaw (Walker) and medical student Gabby Holland (Palmer) first meet as disgruntled neighbors in a small coastal. Though Shaw is a playboy and Holland is in a committed relationship with her long-term boyfriend, Dr. Ryan McCarthy (Tom Welling), the two form a romantic relationship. Their relationship suffers many tribulations, but their love remains.

“The Choice” marks Ross Katz’s second major full-length film after “Adult Beginners” (2014). He is primarily a producer but takes a stab at poorly scripted romance here.

The acting is less than par, save the talented Tom Wilkinson. The dialogue appears written by a freshman composition student. In addition, the romance dies when a movie couple has children, are constantly seen at work and complain about no free time. That is not romance; it is a standard drama about a family.

Except, this is a bad drama as it moves along as if time matters little. Time appears absent from one scene to the next, making it difficult to determine chronological periods between scenes. Moviegoers should spend their time elsewhere.

Grade: D- (Not a good choice.)