Hail, Caesar!

Genre: Comedy, Mystery
Rating: 12A
Warning: None

With no prior knowledge of the plot, the Coen name alone was enough to get me to the cinema. The poster gives a hint to the sheer amount of talented and recognisable actors, and they aren't just there as big names.

The plot of the overall film is somewhat like a jigsaw, beginning with unrelated characters and snippets of the overarching events. Mildly confusing and very intriguing, you may realise early on what the picture is of, but it comes together either way.

Despite not being aimed at children, this film avoids anything that would need warning for or warrant a higher rating - no sex, no swearing, and minimal smoking for the times it's set in - meaning it's a safe view for families and as light watching.

The interesting part comes in it's three settings of the kidnapping location, the film studio and the in-film scenes. The way the acting and action changes between real and fake are clear, but the changes in lighting, such as the colour, shadows and tone, give the visual 'feel' a noticeable difference. It's easy to tell when scenes on film sets are being seen by the characters and when they're being seen through the studio's cameras.

The contrast between real and fiction in the studio sits next to the contrast between the studio and the kidnapping setting, too. While some things are perfect comparisons, such as a dark outside night kidnapper scene and an overly well lit nighttime film scene, some are amusingly matching. Some characters are as 2D and predictable as you might think, and then at the same time three dimensional and surprisingly complex.

Just as the film doesn't have unneeded sex or violence, as the first ever Coen Brothers film where no one at all dies, it has a sense of whimsy and a gentle sense of humour. That moment in the trailer with the pronunciation of "oh that it were so simple"? Part of a long scene of funny failures and frustration, playing out slowly and surely.

Altogether, Hail, Caesar! is great as a comedy and as a mystery, and a great addition to the filmography of everyone involved. Anyone can watch it and probably should.