And, Scene: <i>Hail, Caesar!</i>
<em>The Atlantic</em> looks back at key cinematic moments in 2016, starting with the Coen Brothers’ sharp 1950s Hollywood satire.
Over the next two weeks, The Atlantic will delve into some of the most interesting films of the year by examining a single, noteworthy moment—whether a bank robbery gone wrong or a history-changing phone call—and unpacking what it says about 2016. First up is the Coen Brothers’ Hail, Caesar! (The whole “And, Scene” series will appear here.)
It might have been because of its early release date (February 1), or its airy, vignette-heavy plot, butwas as a minor Coen Brothers comedy—a satire of Hollywood’s “Golden Age” of moviemaking that felt largely trapped in amber. But its veneration of vintage pop art turned out to have one foot in the present, reminding viewers that all art is political, no matter how milquetoast the branding might be.
