Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Written and Directed by The Coen Brothers

Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich and Ralph Fiennes

In my mind, The Coen Brother's are America's directors. They seem to capture so many different sub-cultures of America perfectly while also satirizing them. The desperation of the American Middle-Class in "Fargo". Three run-away prisoners during the depression era in "O Brother Where Art Thou?". And many others (I don't feel like listing each one. Check their filmography out for yourself!).

In "Hail, Caesar!", the genius brother's tackle Hollywood during the Golden Age of film. Following a studio "fixer", the guy that runs around sweeping scandals under rugs and keeping his bratty movie stars in check, as he attempts to solve his biggest problem yet. The kidnapping of their biggest star.

While this film more than likely won't be named with the Coen Brothers' masterpieces, it sticks with the style that has come to distance the duo from other directors. And it is no exception for my belief that they have never made a bad movie. Not one.

This film certainly rewards the hardcore movie goers in the audience. While many of the jokes will go over the heads of people not familiar with classic cinema, there is seldom a sequence in which there is no reference or nod to classic films. That is probably it's most notable feature.

If you're a casual movie goer, or aren't incredibly familiar with classic films of the 50s, you might not "get" this one. Although I highly encourage everyone to see it, because, well… you never know. But it is certainly not a film that is designed for everyone, as the Coen Brothers rarely are.

My Rating: 8/10

The Chumscrubber (2005)

Directed by Arie Posin
Written by Arie Posin and Zac Stanford
Starring Jamie Bell, Camilla Belle, Justin Chatwin and Glen Close

A teenager discovers the body of his friend who has committed suicide and doesn't bother telling anyone because he knows that all of his neighbors prefer ignoring reality in favor of their own, self-medicated fantasies.

Perhaps it's the picturesque American neighborhood that this film take place in. Or perhaps it's all of the adults who are self-absorbed and couldn't give their children the time of day. But many themes in this movie remind me of "American Beauty".

Filled with unreputable, despicable,  narcissistic adult characters, this film copies reality and multiplies it by a million the way so many teenagers feel ignored and therefore act out. But at the very basic theme of the movie is one young man trying his best to grieve in a world that he believes won't let him.

It is a story that we may not all be able to relate to the specifics, but we certainly can all related to the feeling of not being heard. Or thinking that no one cares enough to listen in a world where everyone looks out only for themselves. At it's very core, that is what many people experience in their teenage year.

I may very well be sounding incoherent throughout this entire review. Frankly, I'm still trying to figure out what this film was. It's so much deeper than I thought it would be that I was not prepared for it. What I can tell you is that it was infuriating, funny, heartwarming and satisfying all at the same time. It is definitely one that I will be thinking about for quite some time. But I do know I loved it.

My Rating: 8/10