This weekend I realised that Hail, Caesar! may well be one of my favourite films.
You see, I don't tend to re-watch films very often - not even those I love. Why? Because I don't ever want to get sick of my favourite films, which is exactly what happens if I see them too often. And yet I've watched Hail, Caesar! three times over the past eighteen or so months since its release in the UK, and I think I love it more now than ever.
The Coen Brothers' tale of Eddie Mannix, a 1950s movie studio trouble-shooter, is just absolutely joyous. I know there has been criticism of the way the Coens use this film to poke fun at Hollywood, but I don't accept that this stems from hatred: to me, the Coens are revelling in the eccentricities of film-making and actors. So yes, actors are empty-headed buffoons and directors have ideas above their station, but this is not a serious film: it's a comedy. Don't take it too seriously.
Hail, Caesar! has some truly memorable scenes, such as pompous director Laurence Laurentz trying to guide hapless western actor Hobie Doyle, and a group of religious leaders debating the on-screen representation of Jesus and God.
Furthermore, the cast is incredible. Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson, Ralph Fiennes, Channing Tatum... all are on peak form.
I was feeling quite depressed over the weekend, but Hail, Caesar! genuinely cheered me up. It's my happy film.
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