Nostalgic, comedic absurdity in ‘Hail, Caesar!’

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Hail, Caesar! Hail, no! This is very much what you’d expect from a movie produced, directed and written by the Coen brothers (“Fargo” 1996); magnificently peculiar. The star-studded ensemble cast understands the bizarre nature of the task and seems eager to let that freak flag fly. For Coen films, it helps to have a warped sense of humor.

This picture is a curious salute (or mockery) to the motion picture industry circa 1951. Whether you get the various inside jokes and stories or not, you will feel like you are there. The sets, wardrobes, cars, hairstyles and the way each actor carries himself or herself, is right out of yesteryear. It’s not perfect, but overall, it’s a swell motion picture.

The story is mostly an excuse for a series of surreal but entertaining vignettes at fictitious Capitol Picture Studios. It follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), a Hollywood “fixer,” who cleans up after his contract stars’ personal predicaments and scandals. He must solve each problem, whatever it takes, and/or sweep it under the carpet with as little exposure as possible.

Brolin is not only dressed for the role, but speaks and credibly carries himself as the type of character we remember from movies of that era. With access to the full support and resources of the studio, he moves from crisis to crisis with the objective of keeping the studio’s dirty little secrets out of the gossip columns; other than stories he feeds them.

It’s all in a day’s work for Mannix, dealing with superstars that carry hints of Roy Rogers, Gene Kelly, Clark Gable and others. DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson) is a hysterically tough broad in an Esther Williams swimsuit. The Coens recreate a delightfully flamboyant synchronized swimming routine that is once again entertaining.

Burt Gurney (Channing Tatum) performs a Gene Kelly type tap dance routine. Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich) is a heroic singing cowboy. Carlotta Valdez (Veronica Osorio) is a singing-dancing Carmen Miranda, and Laurence Laurentz (Ralph Fiennes) is the high-strung foreign director whose decisions are overridden at the whim of studio execs. He metaphorically asks his actors, “Squint against the grandeur!”

Each act is filled with gloriously produced nostalgic scenes. The absurdity puts a smile on your face and sometimes even a chuckle. However, some might be disappointed, as not much of the witty and over-the-top satire is laugh-out-loud funny. Then again, it’s not supposed to be. With all the razzle-dazzle, the illusion of Hollywood magic is brutally exposed as not much more than a cheap trick. Then again, we already knew that.

The exploits change from fun and games when studio mega-star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) disappears. Mannix has to muster more than his typical fix. Serious political issues are spoofed by odd characters engaged in double-speak, but they still make a point. It won’t change anyone’s point of view, but the audience starts to “Feel the Bern.”

The cast is rounded out with Jonah Hill as a staid accountant, Fisher Stevens as a protesting screenwriter and Tilda Swinton in a dual role, as a pair of journalistic twins. Frances McDormand (wife of Joel Coen), who starred in “Fargo,” enjoys her eighth appearance in a Coen brothers film, while many other members of the talented cast eagerly return from prior Coen brothers projects.

“Hail Caesar!” is 106 minutes and rated PG-13 for suggestive content and smoking.

Growing up in the ‘50s, we had no idea each movie character was sometimes a façade for a very flawed persona. In this eccentric comedic expose, Mannix explains, “People don’t want facts they want to believe,” which coincidentally is also true in politics.

This is a clever homage to a glamorous Hollywood era. The ‘50s sets are meticulously crafted and detailed, similar to how “The Artist” rendered the silent screen days in 2011.

We didn’t get all the inside jokes and some just weren’t that funny, but buckle in for this special back lot tour from the Coen brothers. Even when we’re not sure what we’re seeing, Director Laurentz asks, “Would that it were so simple?”

Ron’s Rating: B+   Leigh’s Rating: D+