Hail, Caesar!

Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen are back with their latest film, “Hail, Caesar!”. Josh Brolin stars as Eddie Mannix, the “fixer” for the production company Capitol Pictures. Eddie’s job is no easy task. But when one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), goes missing, Eddie’s job becomes much more stressful and complicated. It does not end there, though. With the long work hours, Eddie is detained from his family, has a tough situation to handle with an actress, and just wants to get his production of “Hail, Caesar!” finally completed. Eddie is most certainly the man for the job, but pleasing Hollywood’s finest directors and stars leads to nothing but one problem after another.

“Hail Caesar!” is a welcome return from the Coen brothers after their depressing 2013 dramedy “Inside Llewyn Davis.” “Hail, Caesar!” has been marketed as a comedy, but has a similar tone to “Llewyn” yet not nearly as dark and dreary. It is a lighthearted Hollywood romp about the stresses of the entertainment industry and is more dramatic than it is comedic. The Coens provide strong direction (as always), the script is cleverly written, and the performances are charming and believable. The old-fashioned Hollywood tone adds a great touch to the film. Although the story gets a little messy and sidetracked with the sub-plots, it is still a very engaging nostalgic film from one of the best filmmaking duos in the industry today.

“Hail, Caesar!” may not be the best film made by the Coens, but it is certainly the cleanest. The film is a light PG-13, as there is some mild suggestive content, brief language, and quite a bit of smoking. Overall, though, the sexual content is fairly mild in “Hail, Caesar!”, especially when compared to most other Hollywood films today. Early in the film, a brief photoshoot takes place, and we see a woman wearing a suggestive, low cut milkmaid costume. There is also a swimming pool number while a film is being shot, and women are seen wearing modest swimsuits. However, one woman wears a formfitting mermaid costume that is also low cut. A character makes a reference to a “love nest,” and there is talk about a woman being pregnant out of wedlock. They are unsure of who the father is. There is mention of a character known for having his “afternoon trysts.” There is also a musical number involving male sailors dancing with one another. There is a slight implication of homosexuality, but since this film takes place in the 1950s, this act could go either way. After being drugged, a character says it was the first time he woke up without a woman next to him. The film also contains a few subtle and mild suggestive comments. Sodomy is briefly mentioned, and a bottom half of a statue is briefly seen with a leaf obscuring its privates.

The production of “Hail, Caesar!: A Tale of the Christ” being filmed in the movie revolves around a fictional retelling of a Roman soldier’s encounter with Christ. However, the violence is very mild and sometimes a bit slapstick. During filming, we see some slaves from a distance being beaten and whipped by Roman soldiers (not graphic nor bloody), and we see a silhouette from behind of Jesus hanging on the cross. Blood is seen on His feet as a soldier approaches the cross. Both a man and woman get slapped once each, and a character gets her scarf caught in a film projector (played for laughs). There is mild Western gunplay during a filming sequence.

The language is mild to moderate, as there are only about four or five uses each of both d*mn and h*ll. B**ch is said once and a** is thrown in two or three times as well. A “Good lord” phrase pops up and a few mild insults like “cooc” and “crackpot” are said. Unfortunately, there is one abuse of Christ’s name (combined with the phrase “on a scooter”) and one more possible misuse drowned out during a musical number. The scene is very busy both musically and visually, so only the most observant viewer may catch this.

There are only a couple of instances of alcohol consumption, but there is frequent smoking by characters throughout which may be concerning to some viewers. Also, a character gets drugged and passes out after someone puts a powder in his drink. There is a brief reference to narcotics and a mention of “passing gas.” A character bribes other characters.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” —Isaiah 53:5

“Hail, Caesar!” is not really a spiritual journey, but the movie of the same title being shot in the film most certainly is. This has to be the Coen’s most spiritual film yet, as many questions about faith are asked, and there are positive nods to Christianity. A character visits a priest and confesses his sins. But he also seeks guidance and truth, and, later on, we hear of how Christ forgave our sins. The same man admits that he lied in the past and, to his credit, keeps trying to quit smoking. The Bible is viewed as a sacred Book, and the Gospel message is clearly conveyed by a Catholic priest. One scene involves a comedic theological debate, but it is tastefully done, as it is shared that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is love. A character says that “He [Jesus] saw sin and gave love” and that “God wants us to do what is right.” During filming, a character also says, “I saw the light of God”. He continues to say that Christ came to save and that He is the Truth. It is also said that our conscience comes from God.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” —Exodus 20:7 (ESV)

I was very surprised and refreshed by how mild the overall content was in “Hail, Caesar!”. It still has its problems, though, since there is some light suggestive material on display in addition to a harsh profanity and a plethora of smoking. However, I still recommend “Hail, Caesar!” for ages 12+ based on maturity. This film is definitely going to be one of the safest options when going to the theater. “Hail, Caesar!” isn’t completely inappropriate for kids, but I am sure most will be bored and not appreciate the nostalgia and story behind it anyway. There are also plenty of mature themes that children simply won’t understand, as well.

“Hail, Caesar!” is a well-crafted and entertaining film that is a great alternative for adult entertainment, this day and age. I, myself, appreciated the religious themes incorporated into the film, while God and the Bible are highly respected amongst characters. The film approaches how various religions perceive God, but the Gospel is certainly the front-runner in this story. “Hail, Caesar!” may ask more questions about faith than it gives answers, but when we near film’s end, our eyes are opened to the One who came down to Earth to pay the penalty for our sins. The One who gave us peace, joy, forgiveness, and love. Our Savior Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16

Violence: Mild / Profanity: Mild to Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

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