‘Hail, Caesar!’ Shows the Coen Brothers’ Love of Movies

The Wall Street Journal ^ | January 26, 2016 | Caryn James

[Cecily]

For more than 30 years, Joel and Ethan Coen have created droll spins on classic genres, from the fresh noir of their first film, “Blood Simple,” to the intense newfangled western of “No Country for Old Men” and the goofy, musical Depression-era “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” The Coen brothers’ love of movies finally takes center stage in “Hail, Caesar!”

Set in early-1950s Hollywood, the comedy follows a fixer at the fictional Capitol Studios (Josh Brolin) who tries to retrieve a kidnapped star (George Clooney). But the film, which opens Feb. 5, is driven by five wildly varied movies-within-the-movie that the fictional characters are making. To create these elaborate set pieces, the Coen brothers drew on their lifelong knowledge of old movies and meticulously researched more.

As a dunderheaded actor named Baird Whitlock, Mr. Clooney is a Roman soldier in a Bible epic, “Hail, Caesar! A Tale of the Christ.” Scarlett Johansson wears a mermaid’s tail as an Esther Williams type in a swimming movie with Busby Berkeley-inspired choreography. Playing a matinee idol, Channing Tatum leaps on tabletops as a sailor dancing his way through a Gene Kelly-style musical. The Coens stayed faithful to the period styles, while approaching them with affectionate tweaks. They also faced plenty of logistical challenges.

[safeasthebanks]

"I sure can't ever hear "Danny Boy" again without thinking of it. "

I Agree.