[CRITICAL] HAIL CAESAR !

The filmography of the Coen brothers is of an exceptional quality, there is no doubt about it. However, there are a number of films to be lighter, often comedies anecdotal, where their style can be felt without enthusiasm. What gives films like Burn After Reading, Ladykiller, Intolerable Cruelty or raising Arizona. The real question persists : why the Coen brothers don’t make great comedies ? The question arose because their best films are often sprinkled with little touches of humorous delicious. One is forced to ask, with the release of’HAIL CAESAR !, if this film will be a small recreation friendly, or to store on the side of their great works such as No Country For Old Men, Inside Llewyn Davies, Fargo or The Big Lebowski. On paper, it is challenged from the outset by the casting of 5 stars. Judge for yourself but it’s hard to find this year a gallery of stars as impressive : George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill , and Frances McDormand. The subject is, moreover, of imposing because of the two brothers to attack the american film industry in the 50s.

Let’s kill the suspense, directly : AVE CAESAR ! joined the category of films to minors. The scenario we followed a fixer, Eddie Mannix, for a day, but very soon the film takes on the appearance of a film drama that wants to give an overview of the industry of the cinema without being able to find a binder solid to keep us in suspense. The big worry is that the film does not take off ever, and remains from beginning to end on the same wavelength. As well as the kidnapping of a star makes us smile when we discover the real issue, but beyond the stage of meeting, this arc story loses all its interest. We can detect the pleasure to take Ethan and Joel Coen to play with the codes of the cinema of the era, while offering reconstructions of size. And for us also it is often a pleasure to attend, a blow to a scene of western derided or a scene from a musical comedy. The real problem is the feature-length film in its entirety. AVE CAESAR ! is actually a film where one pecks. We savor a scene, we laugh and then one picks up a time and we get to catch up by another scene a little later.

At the exit of the Bridge of Spies, it had been noted the talent of the Coen in the writing and it had highlighted the way in which they had invested the cinema of Steven Spielberg by bringing their key recognizable. Of course, AVE CAESAR ! is dotted with replica irresistible, details of writing that make the difference. The humor is as usual, very offbeat, absurd. Has the image of Tilda Swinton who is assigned a dual role of twin sisters enemy. The emergence of the second sister arrives with an aplomb that cannot fail to make you smile. And since it is in the brothers Coenare the characters idiots. Started by George Clooney , who, for a change, still embodies a moron ! But where the touching naivety of the idiocy spreads more, it is with the character of Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich). This poor actor of western is found catapult without his endorsement in a film that doesn’t fit him and for which he did not have the required capacities to fulfill its role. If this is the opportunity to have a good laugh in a first time in the light does not get to play, then it finds in the film an important role, as a rehabilitation. By resolving the concerns with Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), he becomes a cowboy in real life but nobody knows that it plays an important role. He who is constantly in search of recognition will remain in anonymity for his weapon the more glorious.

“The problem remains the feature-length film in its entirety. AVE CAESAR ! is actually a film where one pecks.”

We marveled in front of the luxurious casting, and yet the Coen we désarçonnent taking to the stars to make them play minor roles. Jonah Hill has the right to only one scene, Frances McDormand similarly, Scarlett Johansson appears only twice in the film, Channing Tatum has little more screen time, as is Ralph Fiennes. Convene such names recalls the practices of the studios, which are criticized by the film. The majors wanted stars, without worrying about the relevance or coherence with the project (the film shows accurately, and with a mockery of the mysteries of the middle). At the same time, having such a line of names adds luxury to the film, in line with the time processed, where only the appearance account to attract the audiences in the cinemas. The poster is very meaningful to this subject, we can see Jonah Hill in this as he has only a very small role, stealth.

It goes without saying that we appreciate the paw of the brothers Coen , and, undeniably, this project fits into their filmography. But it also goes without saying that we expect much more from them. AVE CAESAR ! is a little tidbit, immediately enjoyable but also very anecdotal. The advantage with a film minor of the two brothers – and it is audited by the past, it is the film that will follow is likely to be a major work. So accept the recreation totally that are offered Joel and Ethan Coen until they come back in more serious cases.

Maxime Bedini

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