“Hail, Caesar!” follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix, a Hollywood fixer for Capitol Pictures in the 1950s, who cleans up and solves problems for big names and stars in the industry. But when studio star Baird Whitlock disappears, Mannix has to deal with more than just the fix.
What happens when you mix legendary actors, an original story, a smooth and hilarious script, and two of the greatest directors of all time, the Coen brothers? You get “Hail, Caesar!” — an absolutely hilarious masterpiece that I absolutely adore.
This is a comedy that never bores the audience. It is delightfully original. There are a few moments of romance in the film, but not enough to call this film romantic. It has an exciting and original plot, with just a hint of dramatic turns throughout the story. What can be better than a movie about making movies, beautiful sets, and intrigues behind the scenes?
The story starts when Whitlock (George Clooney), a famous actor, disappears right before the filming of his final scenes for the movie “Hail, Caesar!,” where he plays the main character. Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is assigned to get him back before the studio loses a lot of money.
Although the comedy makes the whole audience laugh out loud time and time again, the cinematography is what made me fall in love with the film. The Coen brothers, who directed the film, execute mastery with every shot, from aerial to 360-degree views. Each one looks so carefully planned, making it perfect for the scene and simply breathtaking. The acting also excels with mega stars including Clooney, Brolin, Scarlett Johansson, and Channing Tatum. They play their parts as if they are — and always have been — that person.
My favorite scene is when we first see Johansson. She is doing a majestic and beautiful swimming routine in which she and other actors perform an extravagant number. What I really love about this shot is the camera angles showing everything from the side to the top, showing the scene in a very unexpected and wonderful way. The scene is peaceful and enjoyable and then ends with an abrupt, unexpected joke.
The comedy is somewhat mature, so I recommend it for kids ages 13 to 18. I give it five out of five stars for its excellent humor, beautiful camera shots, and an exciting, yet fresh story. This film is in theaters now, so check it out!
— Gerry O., age 13
See his video review at: Video review: https://youtu.be/pFk7wnpUHps
