I enjoy a good Coen Brothers film, I remember watching “Raising Arizona” one Sunday evening with my brother not really understanding what was happening but laughing at John Goodman and the surprisingly enjoyable Nick Cage (before he went completely mad). Fargo remains one of my favourite films and Big Lebowski is just superb, again, John Goodman shining throughout.
When I heard of Hail, Caesar! I was interested in the premise, but the trailers just didn’t sell it to me, but with the Unlimited Card at my finger tips and a spare evening I ventured to my local World of Cine.
A mishmash of sketches with various celebrity cameos and the main plot revolving around a kidnapped George Clooney and Josh Brolin’s quest to get him back, Hail, Caesar! Was a hard film to describe and sit comfortably through. The audience started at an eager 30 and was whittled down to around 5 by the midpoint. There seemed to be very little connection with the multiple cameo sections to the actual drive of the film, with them removed the running time would have been reduced by a good hour but the film would have been without substance. I can say that although it was completely disjointed, I did in fact enjoy the experience.
Channing Tatums’ dance routine in a very camp sailor collaboration was enjoyable, Ralph Fiennes is an absolute delight and fast becoming one of my favourite actors (was not a fan a few years ago, but he is really shining through with current roles – Grand Budapest Hotel).
Defintely not one of the Coen’s highlights, and definitely not one for the paying cinema goer, but as an addition to the film list it was an different watch.
