HAIL, CAESAR!

The Coen Brothers latest cinematic endeavour is a satirical tribute to the golden era of Hollywood, when epic religious and musical movies dominated the box office.

Set in the early 1950’s, the fictional Capital Pictures are filming their enormous production Hail, Caesar! when leading actor Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) is kidnapped by a group of likeable commies. Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is the studio fixer, whose job is to keep the stars in line and prevent any scandalous behaviour from reaching the press.

Joel and Ethan Coen have written, produced, directed and edited this witty film, which cleverly recreates the post-war Hollywood studio system. Nothing is sacred as studio heads, gossip columnists, unmanageable actresses, workers suspected of Communist sympathy and even insignificant extras are subtly spoofed.

Ingenious references to real life actors and numerous strangely engaging sequences (such as Channing Tatum tap dancing in an irrelevant musical number) should transfix audiences.

The Coen Brothers have assembled a marvellous cast and produced a film, which is doubtlessly a minor comedic gem. (MMo)

***1/2