The film is set in 1951 and follows Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), a Hollywood fixer working for Capitol Pictures, as he deals with various issues and challenges in the movie industry.
In the climax of the movie, Mannix confronts the various complications that have arisen throughout the narrative. One of the studio’s biggest stars, Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), has been kidnapped by a group called “The Future,” a collective of Communist writers seeking ransom money.
Mannix, with the help of various Hollywood personalities, including DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson), Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich), and director Laurence Laurentz (Ralph Fiennes), manages to rescue Whitlock from the clutches of “The Future.” The situation is resolved without significant harm to Whitlock or the studio.
In the resolution, Mannix grapples with a job offer from the Lockheed Corporation, a stable and less stressful position compared to his current role in the chaotic world of Hollywood. Throughout the film, Mannix contemplates whether to continue working in the movie industry or take the seemingly more secure job with Lockheed.
The film ends with Mannix deciding to stay in Hollywood, reflecting on the unique challenges and rewards of his position as a studio fixer. The concluding scenes suggest that, despite the chaos and eccentricities of the movie business, Mannix finds fulfillment in his role.
In summary, “Hail, Caesar!” concludes with the successful resolution of the kidnapping plot, Mannix choosing to remain in the movie industry, and a reflection on the nature of Hollywood and the people who make it work. The film is a satirical homage to the golden age of Hollywood, exploring its quirks and idiosyncrasies through the lens of the Coen Brothers’ distinct style.