One bright spot in Hail Caesar

Well, I went to see "Hail, Caesar" last evening... and, while I don't think it deserved a C- Cinemascore, I would recommend you wait until it starts streaming on demand if you feel the need to watch it.  The biggest problem was that there was too much George Clooney thinking he's being funny and really just being boring... really, really boring.  Even though his story line sets up the movie, you don't care for it... at all.  The Channing Tatum dance number used extensively in all of the trailers doesn't happen until halfway through the 3rd act, in fact, you don't even meet his character until then.  The only story line to have any interest is that of Hobie Doyle, the singing cowboy played by Alden Ehrenreich, who suddenly finds himself cast as a suave, debonair lead.

His scenes are not only funny, you like him as a person.  If the Coen's had relied far less on Clooney and scaled up the Hobie Doyle story they probably would have had a much better movie, one that was funny all the way through, rather then just here and there, but they're friends with George, and they probably think he's hysterical.  He isn't.

Hail Caesar: The Coen's and diversity

I'm going to go see "Hail, Caesar" this weekend and am anticipating enjoying it thoroughly.  Face it, there's nothing quite like seeing sailors tap dancing on tables in their clean, white uniforms to get the blood pumping.

So, when I saw an interview with the Coen brothers in The Daily Beast I thought this might be an interesting read, and it was.  Surprisingly, the interviewer was more concerned with their opinions about the recent diversity scourge plaguing Hollywood.  It was new perspective, one most people don't consider.  Who ever thought that George Clooney, who tried to hit one out of the park on the lack of diversity, should have a production company which employs and casts very few?  Hhmmm.  And I agreed with the point they made about writing the story.  The story is what is important and when you feel you need to include a minority just to make sure they are included, you are losing sight of the story.

The Coen brothers are very successful film makers, they, themselves, are Oscar winners and some of their films include minorities and some of them don't.  And then I thought about all the detractors clambering about the lack of diversity at the Oscars, one of whom is Spike Lee.  Lionsgate released his "Chi-raq" on December 4th specifically so it might be considered.  While critics thought it was fresh, the audience pretty much hated it.  It never played in more than 305 theaters and couldn't even muster $3 million in ticket sales.  This is what they call a turkey, and it took over 30 days before it was finally cremated.  So, how many of this year's nominees were in turkeys?  Personally, I think Spike should put out a product which successfully garners ticket sales before he starts to complain.

As for George?  Well, people like to see George on the silver screen.

But maybe next time he should make sure his dentures are fitting properly before he speaks out.