Hail, Caesar! [Blu-ray]

Heard of this Coen Brothers movie some time ago, caught it on streaming and really enjoyed it. After it became a little scarce on streaming, I decided to get the Blu-Ray and am very happy with the purchase.The story is a little hard to describe as there are so many small stories and subplots going on. Basically, the setting is a 1950's Hollywood studio where a "fixer" (played by Josh Brolin) has his hands full trying to keep the movie stars out of trouble. The biggest difficulty comes when their latest biblical epic "Hail, Caesar!" may come to a halt as the film's biggest star (played by George Clooney) is kidnapped and held for ransom by a group of Communist Screenwriters. Brolin's character has his struggles with all of the tasks that he has to do (to the point where he's confessing to his priest on a literally daily basis) and wonders if it's all worth it. However, while all of the actors' eccentricities wear on Brolin's patience, they're extremely entertaining for us, the viewers.All in all, this film is really entertaining, even if things go in different directions. It's basically a tribute and satire of Old Hollywood and we see a wide variety of story lines and sub-plots which can be encountered within a busy Hollywood studio. Everything from biblical period pieces to musicals to cowboy westerns can be seen here and all of the stars and film makers who interact in these films makes for some really entertaining comedy. One of my favorite scenes is when Brolin's character has several religious leaders in a board room and tries to get their input for the depiction of Jesus Christ in their latest biblical epic. Their comments are pretty funny. Another hilarious interaction comes when a prim and proper film director tries to get a rather oafish cowboy actor to say his lines in a period drama which is way out of the actor's experience and competency level.The Universal Studios Blu-Ray is good. Very good picture and sound. There are nice behind-the-scenes features that delve into this fun satire of Old Hollywood. All in all, a pretty good experience.Highly recommended for fans of the Coen Brothers. Another recommendation is to watch this film along with another Coen Brothers picture, Barton Fink. These two films are unofficial companion pieces as both deal with Old Hollywood and even seem to take place in the same fictional studio. The differences being that Barton Fink is a bit more of a Dark Comedy taking place in 1941 while Hail, Caesar! is a more light-hearted comedy taking place in the 1950's. However, I think both together make for a good double feature.

I am a long time fan of the Coen Brothers films, going back to "Blood Simple" when I talked up and promoted the film to my friends who, back then, asked "Coens who, what?". I enjoy even second and third tier Coen Brothers films. Despite tepid to outright hostile reviews of "Hail Caesar" I found it to be one of Joel and Ethan Coen's very best films. However, I used to live in Hollywood, used to be in the film business and, like the Coens, I have a fondness for the history, lore and myth of old pre-TV Hollywood and the Hollywood studio system. Your enjoyment of "Hail Caesar" will likely depend on if you can answer "yes" to knowing who and what the following people, events and subjects are (it's hard to appreciate an irony or joke about, caricature of, loving recreation of or quote about someone or something if you don't know what it's about):Joe McCarthyThe House On Un American Activities CommitteeThe Hollywood BlacklistHedda HopperLuella ParsonsThe Carmen Sternwood "Chinese dress" scene from "The Big Sleep"Irving ThalbergGene AutryEsther WilliamsGene KellyCarmen MirandaEddie MannixHollywood Biblical Epics since the silent eraCarlotta ValdesIf you can say "yes" to most of the above then you will likely find the film to be delightful. If not then the actual situations, and what the story can tell you about the people, and why they are doing and saying what what are doing and saying, may leave you blank and trying to figure out why the film seems flat. It isn't. It's brilliant. But you do have to know what you're looking at. For some people "Hail Caesar" may be as interesting as "Straight Outta Compton" is to a Trump supporter. For those who know Hollywood it's a charming, lovingly made reenactment of an era, its style, personalities, film cliches, story genres and production modes as seen through the imagination of Joel and Ethan Coen.I suspect that one reason that the film may have not caught fire with some people is that it lampoons the Marxist/Communist members of the 1950s era film community who were the targets of the McCarthy era anti-Communist HUAC hearings and the Hollywood blacklist. These people have since the 1950s become the founding saints and martyrs of modern liberal Hollywood. Hollywood has, as an institution, been out for cultural and political revenge on conservative America ever since the HUAC era.Unlike the recent film "Trumbo", where blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo is portrayed as a flawed but heroic genius screenwriter in tune with modern progressivism, the Communist screenwriters in "Hail Caesar" are portrayed as verbose faux intellectual nincompoops. If Trumbo had appeared in "Hail Caesar" he would have been one of the fools in the row boat, rowing out from a luxurious Malibu beach house to rendezvous with a Russian submarine. The fools in the row boat are of course the subversive writer's group "The Future" that kidnapped George Clooney's character. Not a proper way, some might feel, to treat saints and martyrs. In the film the fools elect to stay behind in Hollywood to carry on the struggle of inserting subversive commie propaganda into seemingly innocuous entertainment. In real life they were more successful than they could ever have dreamed of. So the joke may be on us.The Coen's view on the era is both satirical and subtly at odds with progressive dogma about what is always virtuous now, always wrong in the past and Hollywood's mythologizing of the post world war two oppression of its Marxist and Communist film makers. "Hail Caesar" was obviously a labor of love for the Coens. It deserved much better than it received on release. But it's not surprising many people just didn't get it. Still, I would rank it in the top ten of all time Joel and Ethan Coen films. RECOMMENDED.

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Joel and Ethan Coen...I have been following them since Blood Simple and for the most part I love their productions. This movie is subtle but memorable. George Clooney is the perfect dolt and Josh Brolin is awesome--what a great actor. The Coens are masters of characters which makes their films interesting. The movie is an interesting concept but may be boring to folks that are into Fast & Furious.

Looking at who's in this I expected a lot more. It wasn't bad, but wasn't really all that entertaining.

Hollywood befand sich in den 1950er-Jahren im Umbruch. Das Studiosystem brach zusammen, die grossen Filmstudios mussten aufgrund eines Urteils des obersten Gerichtshofes ihre Kinos verkaufen. Dazu kam die wachsende Konkurrenz durch das Fernsehen. Hollywood reagierte mit opulent choreografierten Tanz- und Wasserspielen sowie monumentalen Epen mit meist biblischen Hintergründen - die berühmten „Sandalenfilme“, wie sie etwas despektierlich genannt werden, stammen grösstenteils aus dieser Periode.Genau in diese Zeit hinein verpflanzten die Coen-Brüder nun ihren Film. Entstanden ist zum einen eine Persiflage auf den ganzen Film-Zirkus der grossen Hollywood-Studios, zum anderen gleichzeitig eine Huldigung dieser Scheinwelt. Das Spiel zwischen normaler Welt und Film-Irrsinn wird wunderbar durch die Hauptfigur des Studio-Managers Eddie Mannix verkörpert, der zwar die Möglichkeit hätte, dem wilden Treiben zu entfliehen, sich schliesslich jedoch trotzdem für die Traumfabrik entscheidet. Mannix ist eine historische Person und war von 1924 an bei MGM tätig, die Film-Figur hat aber mit dem echten Eddie Mannix nur rudimentär zu tun.Die Coen-Brüder liessen es sich nicht nehmen, alle grossen Genres jener goldenen Epoche Revue passieren zu lassen. Der Western durfte dabei ebenso wenig fehlen, wie die Stepptanz-Musicals oder die durch Esther Williams bekannt gewordenen Wasserballett-Filme. Im Zentrum der Handlung steht der titelgebende Film „Hail, Caesar!“, der eine wunderbare Anspielung auf „Quo Vadis“ von 1951 bildet.Die Auswirkungen der finsteren McCarthy-Ära auf Hollywood werden, durch eine in expressionistischer Bildgewalt gedrehter Ruderbootpartie zu einem russischen Unterseeboot, der Lächerlichkeit preisgegeben.„Hail, Caesar!“ ist gespickt mit unzähligen Anspielungen und Andeutungen und setzt beim Zuschauer ein beträchtliches Wissen über die Filmwelt jener Zeit voraus. Der Film mag auf den ersten Blick etwas oberflächlich und einfach wirken. Wie so oft bei den Coens, gibt es aber beim typischen Ringen zwischen Gott, Kunst, Philosophie und vermeintlichen Kalauern Untiefen von ungeheurem Ausmass…Die akribische Liebe zum Detail und die hervorragende schauspielerische Umsetzung machen diesen Coen-Film schliesslich zu einem Meilenstein im Schaffen der Coen-Brüder - selten wurde Hollywood so augenzwinkernd und gnadenlos auf den Arm genommen.Bild (5)Das Bildseitenverhältnis liegt in 1.85:1 (13:7 – US und UK WideScreen Kino-Format. Ursprünglich von Universal 1953 eingeführt) vor.Die Bildschärfe ist wie die Detailgenauigkeit auf Referenzniveau. Der Schwarzwert ist sehr satt und die Kontraste überzeugen. Die Farbgebung ist natürlich ausgefallen.Eine ausgezeichnete HD-Bildumsetzung!Ton (4)Das Tonformat liegt in DTS 5.1 vor.Die Surroundseparation ist sehr ansprechend ausgefallen. Leider gibt es keinen deutschen HD-Ton, was unzeitgemäss ist!Die Dialoge sind jederzeit bestens zu verstehen. Während die Balance sehr gut ausgefallen ist, leidet die Dynamik etwas unter dem fehlenden HD-Ton.Extras (3)Gibt es einige, habe ich mir aber nicht angesehen. Es gibt ein WendeCover!Fazit: Für alle, die Coen-Filme mögen oder einen Hang zu Satiren haben, ein äusserst lohnender Film. Die technische Umsetzung der Blu-ray ist sehr gut ausgefallen. Kann ich absolut weiterempfehlen!

HAIL, CAESAR! [2016] [Blu-ray + Digital HD ULTRAVIOLET] A Comedic Tour De Force! Outrageously Funny!Four-time Oscar® winning filmmakers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers [‘No Country for Old Men’ and ‘Fargo’] write and direct ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ and with an all-star comedy set during the latter years of Hollywood's Golden Age. Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Channing Tatum. ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ follows a single day in the life of a studio fixer who is presented with plenty of problems to fix. Narrated by Michael Gambon.Cast: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Frances McDormand, Jonah Hill, Veronica Osorio, Heather Goldenhersh, Alison Pill, Max Baker, Fisher Stevens, Patrick Fischler, Tom Musgrave, David Krumholtz, Greg Baldwin, Patrick Carroll, Fred Melamed, John Bluthal, Alex Karpovsky, Aramazd Stepanian, Allan Havey, Robert Pike Daniel, Robert Picardo, Ian Blackman, Geoffrey Cantor, Christopher Lambert, Robert Trebor, Michael Yama, Ming Zhao, Helen Siff, Basil Hoffman, Luke Spencer Roberts, Ralph P. Martin, James Austin Johnson, Noah Baron, Timm Perry, Noel Conlon, Natasha Bassett, Richard Abraham, Jon Daly, Dennis Cockrum, Clancy Brown, Mather Zickel, Tiffany Lonsdale, Clement von Franckenstein, Wayne Knight, Jeff Lewis, Kyle Bornheimer, Josh Cooke, Peter Jason, Stephen Ellis, Jillian Armenante, Jacob Witkin, Jack Huston, Agyness Deyn, Emily Beecham, Benjamin Beatty, J.R. Horne, Caitlin Muelder, E.E. Bell, Kate Morgan Chadwick, Brian Jones, Peter Banifaz, Clifton Samuels, K.C. Reischerl, Jeremy Davis, Marcos Mateo Ochoa, Colin Bradbury, Ryan Breslin, Tyler Hanes, Casey Garvin, Luke Hawkins, Evan Kasprzak, Patrick Lavallee, Adam Perry, Ryan Vandenboom, Alex Demkin, Dax Hock, Shesha Marvin, Mark Stuart, Forrest Walsh and Michael Gambon (Narrator)Directors: Joel Coen and Ethan CoenProducers: Catherine Farrell, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Eric Fellner and Tim BevanScreenplay: Joel Coen and Ethan CoenComposer: Carter BurwellCinematography: Roger DeakinsVideo Resolution: 1080pAspect Ratio: 1.85:1Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish: 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound, French: DTS-HD Surround Sound, German: 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound, Italian: 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound and English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio DescriptiveSubtitles: English, Arabic, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Português and SwedishRunning Time: 106 minutesRegion: Region B/2Number of discs: 1Studio: Universal Pictures / Working TitleAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: With the film HAIL, CAESAR! [2016] the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers conjure up nostalgic joy from this hilarious knockabout homage to the golden age of film and also delivers a gorgeously crafted romp through vintage Hollywood in this droll and ruminative entertainment, that is totally and utterly superbly silly and lovingly goofy latest comes on like a breezy flipside companion-piece to the ‘Barton Fink’ film and it's a pleasure to watch and the film lets the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers and cinematographer Roger Deakins to pastiche every kind of genre from the classical Hollywood studio era. Where we have a jaunt through the underbelly of old Hollywood which finds not the fiery hell of the tortured artist but the upbeat splash of synchronised swimming, ‘On the Town’ type toe-tapping and toga-wearing biblical balderdash. The film pinballs between AWOL movie stars, red-scare nightmares and Bikini Atoll bomb tests, while raising important questions of whether God is still very angry with the world, and how to make a lasso out of spaghetti, and the secret of balancing a bunch of bananas on your head, and they say it is all down to the hips, lips, eyes and thighs, apparently I am informed.It’s 1951, and the motion picture industry is responding to the threat of television with colourful choreography, escapist romances and biblical epics. We open with a choir, a crucifix and a rosary, leading us to Eddie Mannix [Josh Brolin] in the confessional. It’s been 24 hours since his last confession, and Eddie Mannix has racked with the guilt of lying to his wife about smoking. But there’s no rest for the wicked, and 3:00am finds studio fixer Eddie Mannix, an altogether more decent version of his real-life namesake, and saving a starlet from a “possible French postcard situation” before checking into Capitol Pictures where ‘HAIL, CAESAR! A Tale of the Christ,’ where they say tongue in cheek, “Divine presence is to be shot…” is in full swing.The high-powered Hollywood fixer Eddie Mannix has been enjoying an on-screen mini-renaissance, and now the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers lavish throwback to an earlier era of industry damage control, as overseen here by the character of Eddie Mannix, a fictionalised composite of the real-life studio executive Joseph Edgar Allen, John "Eddie" Mannix and his head of publicity, Howard Strickling served as head of publicity for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures from the late 1920s into the early 1950s. The various scandals that Joseph Edgar Allen, John "Eddie" Mannix and Howard Strickling covered up during their decades working together at M-G-M could easily furnish several films of their own, but Ethan Coen and Joel Coen Brothers generally steer clear of salaciousness in favour of a jaundiced but affectionate character study, treating Josh Brolin’s eternally put-upon as Eddie Mannix as a beacon of relative sanity and intelligence in a world overrun by irrationality, venality and corruption.Eddie Mannix, a hard-working Catholic family man first seen unburdening his soul to a priest, and not just because he has sneaked a few cigarettes behind his wife’s back. It’s the 1950s, and as the designated fixer for Capitol Pictures, played here in a sly amalgam of the Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures and SONY film lots, plus the courtyard of Los Angeles Union Station, Eddie Mannixis tasked with preserving the illusion of Hollywood glamour and propriety at a time of pervasive moral crackdown and socio-political upheaval, taking not-always-savoury steps to ensure that production runs smoothly and top talents stay out of the headlines.That can mean anything from smacking around an up-and-coming actress caught in an illicit photo shoot, to arranging for prized star DeeAnna Moran [Scarlett Johansson] who terrifically brassy if a bit underused) to secretly adopt her own out-of-wedlock child, a twist inspired directly by the real-life Eddie Mannix’s similar arrangement for the actress Loretta Young. It also means enforcing the studio’s questionable decision to cast the handsome, dumb-as-a-stump cowboy Hobie Doyle [Alden Ehrenreich] who is totally superb, an audience hit in a recent string of Westerns, in an elegant parlour drama called “Merrily We Dance,” to the quiet chagrin of the prestigious director Laurence Laurentz [Ralph Fiennes], whose patient attempts to steer the hopeless Hobie Doyle through a single line of dialogue provide the film with one of its most delicious scenes and ultimately this is one of the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers jolliest and most carefree films and quite a surprise considering its subject matter.Generally, when the inner workings of Hollywood are shown on screen, for example in ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘The Bad and The Beautiful,’ and the studio system are depicted as a hotbed of viciousness, egotism and backstabbing. In ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ it is a magical Hollywood like world from which unhappiness seems to have been banished and the sun is always shining. Everyone is cheerful. Even the super-bitchy gossip columnists Thora and Thessaly Thacker (both played by Tilda Swinton) aren’t that vicious really. And one of the delights of the film is its collection of comic cameo performances.There is a brilliant Gene Kelly dance like sequence involving a lot of randy sailors in a bar, led by Channing Tatum. We see scenes from Hobie Doyle’s western ‘Lazy Ol’ Moon,’ as well as lots of slaves and the Romans beneath the crucifix in ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ itself. We’re taken into the cutting room where a chain-smoking editor Frances McDormand lets her scarf get too close to her equipment and nearly chocked to death.‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ is basically a day in the life of this studio boss, whose job is his religion and Josh Brolin, in a heart-and-soul performance, takes this crazy world of the film industry in showing us that he is a man surrounded by nut jobs and plays it for real and is just totally tremendous in how he solves many problems that arise. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned" are the first words we hear from Eddie Mannix, a married Catholic who exasperates his priest in Confession by asking forgiveness on an almost daily basis. On his own, Eddie Mannix is an insecure mess and prowling the studio, and definitely gives everyone that he is a very scary lion.Working for Capitol Pictures makes this ex-bouncer an executive baby-sitter and what babies. Scarlett Johansson is a treat as the studio's swim-star sweetheart and think Esther Williams, but with a mouth like a gun moll. Channing Tatum is a knockout as a song-and-dance man, and think Gene Kelly with a political agenda and definitely Channing Tatum so nails his joyous tap routine with a chorus of sailors that you long to see a musical built around him. And cheers to the terrific Alden Ehrenreich as the studio's cowboy star and think Roy Rogers, a drawling Hicksville who is forced to star as an urban sophisticate, a role for which he is unforgettably unsuited and it is howlingly funny to watch a vexed British director, a priceless Ralph Fiennes trying to guide him through countless takes of the line "Would that it 'twere so simple," and the scene is one for the comedy time capsule.You don't really notice a plot until the studio's star of stars, Baird Whitlock [George Clooney], gets kidnapped during production of a biblical epic ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ and George Clooney has a blast adding Baird Whitlock to the series of idiots he's played for the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers in ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ and ‘Intolerable Cruelty.’ It's blasphemous fun watching him blow his lines in a cathartic scene with a crucified Christ. Bair Whitlock takes nothing seriously, not even being a hostage. That's why Eddie Mannix roughs him up hard. Trying to stay moral in this Hollywood Babylon, Eddie Mannix wrestles with a cosmic question: Should he put his faith in the “God of a Job” or the unseen studio deity who phones in his commandments, where Eddie Mannix tries to sweat it out in style.But their film never loses its exhilarating buoyancy. The Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers love these debauched people and the different genre films they turn out with such hilarious glee. Cinematographer Roger Deakins, production designer Jess Gonchor and costume designer Mary Zophres create visual bliss. ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ is a valentine to the fly-on-the-wall filmmaking, from two control freaks. And everything that is totally nihilistic despair is included, and works like a charm and it is not easy to whip up a fizzy throwaway, that's also very serious at times, but also very simple at times. Yet the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers pull it off in great style and they are totally and utterly indispensable. It deserves however a great deal of credit for the way it is all put together. The editing, sound, and visuals are all so striking that the film will hopefully pick up a gong or two eventually when the awards season arrives. In this regard, I feel that the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers deserve recognition as directors, editors and screenplay without doubt.HAIL, CAESAR! MUSIC TRACK LISTNO DAMES! [Performed by Channing Tatum]LAZY OLD MOON [Performed by Willie Watson]AUTUMN MOON OVER THE CALM LAKE (ON GUZHENG) [Performed by Carol of the Sound of China Guzheng Music]THE RED FLICKERING LIGHT OF CANDLE [Performed by Wang Guotong]THE MERRY WIDOW WALTZ (BALLSIRENENWALZER) [Performed by Richard Hayman Symphony Orchestra]TALES OF HOOMAN (Act IV: Barcarolle, Belle Nuit) [Written by Jacques Offenbach]GLORY OF LOVE [Performed by Alden Ehrenreich & Veronica Osorio]THE CATTLE CALL [Performed by Eddie Arnold]SLAVERY AND SUFFERING (Traditional) [Performed by The Red Army Choir]SONG OF INDIA [Written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Red Bone & Tommy Dorsey]VARCHAVIANKA [Performed by The Red Army Choir]KALINKA (Traditional) [Performed by The Red Army Choir]ECHELON’S SONG [Performed by The Red Army Choir]OUR FATHER [Performed by Ascension Church Choir (Maloe), Moscow, Fyodor Stroganov (as F. Stroganov) & Svetlana Serafimovich (as S. Serafimovich)]Blu-ray Video Quality – Universal Pictures and Working Title Blu-ray release ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ have once again brought us a superb and stunning 1080p encoded image release, with an equally wonderful 1.85:1 aspect ratio especially showing us the love and devotion of giving us the impression of the Golden Age of Hollywood and Roger Deakins definitely brings that out in the presentation of this film, and especially the Blu-ray does all that is necessary to let you see all the wonderful detail that went into bringing the world of big Hollywood studio sets to life. Shot on film, you get an incredibly clear picture that maintains the feel this film was attempting to achieve. It only becomes more of an appreciation once you think about the variety of different film styles we see all at once, given the nature of the story. You get a great depth of movement that is wonderful and smooth, as well as a fine clarity between the background and foreground. Black levels are deep and inky, with a good amount of shadow in this film and it all manages to look quite wonderful. Colours are so totally vivid throughout the film, that really pops out of the screen and the film has so much to offer, especially with the brilliant sets and elaborate costumes, which really make for a beautiful coloured filled experience. As to the look of all the actors featured in this film, Roger Deakins made sure there is a great amount of clarity in all their facial textures throughout, especially George Clooney in his Roman costume and how we see his oh so much tanned skin and his well-defined legs throughout the film. It is all there for everyone to see and overall the image quality we get presented is brought out in the best possible taste, as Kenny Everett would all tell us. Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.Blu-ray Audio Quality – Universal Pictures and Working Title Blu-ray release ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ brings us a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The film sounds really great and very precise overall. The various film sets certainly allow for a level of variety throughout the film and that is very welcome. The different channels get some moments that really shine and especially given some of the bigger moments in the film, especially when a thunderstorm erupts all around you. The audio department has put in plenty of work to create a terrific atmospheric sound mixes, despite being mainly around the studio film set. The surround work is handled properly to provide good amounts of balance, making really good use of the various channels available. This is very much a dialogue related film and everyone is heard loud and clear.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Special Feature: Directing Hollywood [2016] [1080p] [1.85:1] [4:11] In this love letter to the Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers, everyone involved in the making of the fil discuss why they all said "yes" to the Coen Brothers when approached for their parts in the film. Essentially, this is a short feature on why everyone loves both Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. We also get to hear and discuss how this picture came to exist, what went into getting it actually made and how much everyone involved in working with the Coen Brothers were keen without any hesitation. Contributors include George Clooney [Baird Whitlock], Channing Tatum [Burt Gurney], Tilda Swinton [Thessally & Thora Thacker], Alden Ehrenreich [Hobie Doyle], Ralph Fiennes [Laurence Laurentz], Josh Brolan [Eddie Mannix], Robert Graf [Executive Producer] and Scarlett Johansson [DeeAnna Moran].Special Feature: The Stars Align [2016] [1080p] [1.85:1] [11:34] Here once again we get some more behind-the-scenes view of the making of the film, along with more intimate interviews and plot overview, especially with some of the cast members who talk in front of the camera to talk about their respective characters and appreciation for the feature film and of course working with the brilliant Cohen Brothers and the way they like to make their films. Again, it's not deep but it is amusing enough to watch once. Contributors include George Clooney [Baird Whitlock], Josh Brolan [Eddie Mannix], Ralph Fiennes [Laurence Laurentz], Robert Graf [Executive Producer], Alden Ehrenreich [Hobie Doyle], Tilda Swinton [Thessally & Thora Thacker], Channing Tatum [Burt Gurney] and Scarlett Johansson [DeeAnna Moran].Special Feature: An Era Of Glamour [2016] [1080p] [1.85:1] [6:22] This is slightly more interesting and looks at the production design and the massive undertaking necessary to recreate the Golden Era of that period in Hollywood. All of the costumes in ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ are absolutely fantastic, and there should definitely be a special feature dedicated to them, instead we barely gloss over the creation of the costumes. Once again we get to share some insight into the importance of getting the wardrobe and costuming period accurate for the feature. This is sadly slightly shorter than it could have been, but what we view is very interesting. Contributors include Robert Graf [Executive Producer], Jess Gonchor [Production Designer], Mary Zophres [Costume Designer], Scarlett Johansson [DeeAnna Moran], Channing Tatum [Burt Gurney], George Clooney [Baird Whitlock], Josh Brolan [Eddie Mannix], Ralph Fiennes [Laurence Laurentz] and Tilda Swinton [Thessally & Thora Thacker].Special Feature: Magic Of A Bygone Era [2016] [1080p] [1.85:1] [6:01] This extra is specifically focuses on two of the film’s major set pieces, the impressive tap-dancing sequence, the underwater Esther William type number, seeing the Choreography workout for the dance numbers and to explain the intricacies of putting together the more complex dance sequences in the film. It is reasonably interesting, but sadly cut far too short. Contributors include Scarlett Johansson [DeeAnna Moran], Channing Tatum [Burt Gurney], Robert Graf [Executive Producer], Christopher Gattelli [‘No Dames’ Choreographer], George Clooney [Baird Whitlock], Josh Brolan [Eddie Mannix] and Mesha Kussman [Swimming Choreographer].Finally, as far as 2016 stands, ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ is firm favourite film to add to my list, as well as others all jostling for positioning for even multiple viewings because of so many twists and turns throughout the film and at times it is hilarious to boot. The Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Brothers are just fantastic directors who know how to craft a film and how to shoot it so well. It is a film for moviemaker’s fans and committed audiences of this genre who aren't so much interested in indulgent moviemaking but a slice of escapism, pure nostalgic Hollywood style. This is the cast and crew having fun, and even if the movie isn't a straight-up Comedy, its sense of humour and relaxed approach, even to some serious material thrown in for good measure and makes this one of the more inspiring and enjoyable "Hollywood on Hollywood" film genre out there. Universal Pictures UK Blu-ray release of ‘HAIL, CAESAR!’ is brilliant and is also a sublime tongue in cheek sarcastic comedy classic, with laugh a minute in Hollywood jokes and again boasts a stunning terrific video image, a good solid audio experience, and a few supplements to make this Blu-ray release well worth adding to your Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your No.1 Film Fan AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom