Hail, Caesar! (2015)
TOBACCO INCIDENTS | 653 |
AVG PER MINUTE | 6.66 |
EDITION | Universal Studios Home Entertainment BLU-RAY released June 7, 2016 |
MOVIE SUMMARY | A movie studio fixer does his thing in Hollywood’s golden age. |
TOBACCO IN SHORT | The fixer (played by actor Josh Brolin) smokes cigarettes and goes around talking to other people who also smoke cigarettes. |
POSSIBLE SMOKESCREENS (?) | The song & dance numbers, the George Clooney kidnapping thing, the communist party thing. |
TOBACCO INCIDENTS:653
AVG PER MINUTE: 6.66
First visual frame at 0:48
Last visual frame at 99:25
Total visual running time: 98:37
# | TIME | ANGLE | DESCRIPTION |
Ironically the first thing that appears on the disc is an ad for Tobacco Free California with the message: “Tobacco is still killing 1 in 5 Americans”. Gee, I wonder why?! | |||
1 | 1:32 | MD | Josh Brolin in the confession booth dialog: “I lied to Connie, uh to my wife. I promised her I’d quit smoking. She thinks it’s bad for me.” |
2 | 1:36 | MD | Continued from previous shot; Josh Brolin dialog: “And I’m trying but… I snuck a couple of cigarettes. Maybe three. It’s so hard. But I’m trying.” |
3 | 2:49 | ES | A large pedistal ashtray is visible behind some liquor bottles. |
4 | 3:25 | 2S | Two police officers come in the front door, one is smoking a cigarette. |
5 | 3:30 | 2S | Repeat of same police officer smoking a cigarette. |
6 | 3:37 | 2S | Repeat of same police officer smoking a cigarette. |
7 | 3:40 | OTS | Smoke rises from over the police officer’s shoulder. |
8 | 3:44 | MD/HH | Same police officer smoking a cigarette as Josh Brolin & woman exit. |
9 | 3:53 | MD | Same police officer smoking a cigarette — he takes a drag at center screen. |
10 | 3:56 | MD | Josh Brolin dialog: “Say, Brian… Can I bum a cigarette?” |
11 | 5:24 | ES | What appears to be an ashtray on the table next to Josh Brolin. |
12 | 6:37 | MD | Josh Brolin takes a drag from a cigarette at center screen. |
* | 7:03 | Dolly | Two men deep in the background appear to be smoking cigarettes. |
13 | 7:08 | Dolly | Continued from previous shot: The man with the manilla envelope is holding a cigarette. |
14 | 7:13 | Dolly | Continued from previous shot: A man sitting on a bench holds a lit cigarette as Josh Brolin & his secretary walk by. |
15 | 9:35 | MD/Dolly | An assistant holds out a cigarette case to the western movie star. |
16-17 | 13:22 | ES | Two large orange glass ashtrays are visible on the conference table in front of Josh Brolin. |
18 | 13:36 | WS | Same large orange glass ashtray is clearly visible as Josh Brolin stands & walks around. |
19-20 | 14:34 | WS | Same two large orange glass ashtrays are visible on the conference table. |
21-22 | 14:40 | WS | Same two large orange glass ashtrays are visible as Josh Brolin returns to the head of the table. |
23 | 14:53 | MD | Josh Brolin dialog: “I want to know if the theological elements of the story are up to snuff.” |
24-25 | 15:42 | WS | Same two large orange glass ashtrays are partially visible behind Josh Brolin. |
26-35 | 17:03 | Dolly | Ten canister ashtrays are visible in the hallway as Josh Brolin & his secretary walk along. |
36 | 17:42 | ES | A glass ashtray is visible on the table behind the western movie star. |
37 | 20:57 | ES | A woman in the background behind Scarlett Johansson is holding a cigarette. |
38 | 21:01 | ES | Same woman in background behind Scarlett Johansson holding a cigarette. |
39-41 | 21:05 | ES | Scarlett Johansson holds an unlit cigarette & small orange glass ashtray on table. Same woman in background taking a drag. |
42-43 | 21:10 | ES | Scarlett Johansson holds an unlit cigarette & same woman in background with a cigarette. A Zippo lighter is also seen & heard. |
44 | 21:12 | OTS | Scarlett Johansson lights up a cigarette with a Zippo lighter. |
45-46 | 21:16 | ES | Scarlett Johansson holds a lit cigarette & same woman in background with a cigarette. |
47 | 21:21 | OTS | Scarlett Johansson takes a drag from a cigarette whilst talking to Josh Brolin. |
48-49 | 21:30 | ES | Scarlett Johansson takes a drag from a cigarette & same woman in background with a cigarette. |
50 | 21:36 | OTS | Smoke rises over Scarlett Johansson’s shoulder in front of Josh Brolin. |
51 | 21:38 | ES | Same woman in background behind Scarlett Johansson holding a cigarette. |
52 | 21:40 | OTS | Smoke rises over Scarlett Johansson’s shoulder in front of Josh Brolin. |
53 | 21:43 | ES | Same woman in background behind Scarlett Johansson holding a cigarette. |
54 | 21:48 | OTS | Smoke rises over Scarlett Johansson’s shoulder in front of Josh Brolin. |
55 | 21:50 | ES | Same woman in background behind Scarlett Johansen holding a cigarette. |
56 | 21:57 | ES | Same woman in background behind Scarlett Johansen holding a cigarette. |
57 | 22:10 | OTS | Smoke rises over Scarlett Johansson’s shoulder in front of Josh Brolin. |
58 | 22:17 | OTS | Smoke rises over Scarlett Johansson’s shoulder in front of Josh Brolin. |
59-60 | 22:20 | ES | Smoke rises next to Scarlett Johansson & same woman in background holding a cigarette. |
61-62 | 22:25 | WS | Two men in the background are smoking cigarettes. |
63 | 22:28 | WS | Same orange glass ashtray is visible on the stool next to Scarlett Johansson. |
64 | 23:09 | ES | A woman in an orange dress sits holding an unlit cigarette in a holder. |
65-68 | 23:22 | ES | A man in a tuxedo & same woman in orange dress are holding unlit cigarettes. Two crystal ashtrays are also visible. |
69-73 | 23:27 | ES | Repeat of man in tuxedo & same woman in orange dress holding unlit cigarettes. Same two crystal ashtrays are visible. |
74-75 | 23:28 | MD | A crystral ashtray & silver cigarette case are visible on the table behind a woman. |
76-77 | 23:33 | ES | Crew man in background with a cigarette & crystal ashtray on the lamp table as Raplh Fiennes walks over. |
78-79 | 23:36 | ES | Two crystal ashtrays are visible on the lamp tables. |
80 | 23:40 | MD/OTS | Same woman in orange dress holding a cigarette in the background. |
81-84 | 23:49 | ES | Same three crystal ashtrays are visible on the lamp tables & same tuxedo man in background holding a cigarette. |
85 | 24:53 | MD/OTS | Same woman in orange dress sits holding an unlit cigarette in background. |
86 | 25:10 | MD/OTS | Same woman in orange dress sits holding an unlit cigarette in background. |
87 | 25:14 | MD/OTS | Same woman in orange dress sits holding an unlit cigarette in background. |
88-89 | 25:50 | Dolly | Same crystal ashtray on the lamp table & same tuxedo man in background with a cigarette. |
90-92 | 25:53 | WS | Two crystal ashtrays on the lamp tables & same tuxedo man in background with a cigarette. |
93-94 | 25:55 | 2S | Same crystal ashtray on the lamp table & same tuxedo man in background with a cigarette. |
95 | 26:14 | WS | Same crew man with a cigarette. |
96 | 26:19 | WS | Same crew man with a cigarette. |
97 | 27:04 | MD | Same crystal ashtray on the table as Ralph Fiennes leans over. |
98 | 27:45 | WS | Same tuxedo man in background smoking a cigarette. |
99-100 | 27:49 | 2S | Same crystal ashtray on the table & same tuxedo man in background smoking a cigarette. |
101-102 | 28:10 | WS | Same crew man with a cigarette & crystal ashtray on background lamp table. |
103-104 | 28:19 | WS | Same crew man with a cigarette & crystal ashtray on background lamp table. |
105-107 | 28:24 | BE | Two crystal ashtrays on the lamp tables & same tuxedo man in background with a cigarette. |
108-109 | 28:26 | 2S | Same crystal ashtray on the lamp table & same tuxedo man in background with a cigarette. |
110 | 29:54 | 2S | Same crystal ashtray on the lamp table. |
111 | 21:42 | ES | A pedistal ashtray is partially visible as Ralph Fiennes enters the office. |
112-114 | 33:16 | ES/Dolly | A man smoking a cigarette & three glass ashtrays are visible on the bar. |
115-116 | 33:25 | ES | A pack of cigarettes is clearly visible & smoke rising from an implied cigarette. |
117 | 33:34 | OTS | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from the man’s implied cigarette. |
118-120 | 33:38 | MD | Smoke rises in front of man & dialog: “Go ahead” as he offers the pack of cigarettes to Josh Brolin. |
121-124 | 33:42 | 2S | Same man holding a lit cigarette, glass ashtray on table, cigarette pack being offered, Josh Brolin dialog: “I’m trying to quit.” |
125-127 | 33:56 | OTS | Same man holding a lit cigarette, same glass ashtray & pack of cigarettes on table. |
128-130 | 34:08 | OTS | Same man holding a lit cigarette, same glass ashtray & pack of cigarettes on table. |
131 | 34:13 | OTS | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
132-134 | 34:18 | OTS | Smoke rises from man’s implied cigarette, same glass ashtray & pack of cigarettes on table. |
135 | 34:20 | OTS | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
136-138 | 34:21 | OTS | Smoke rises from man’s implied cigarette, same glass ashtray & pack of cigarettes on table. |
139 | 34:26 | MD | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
140 | 34:32 | MD | Smoke rises in front of man from his implied cigarette. |
141 | 34:35 | MD | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
142-144 | 34:39 | OTS | Same man holding a lit cigarette, same glass ashtray & pack of cigarettes on table. |
145 | 34:45 | OTS | Same man’s lit cigarette moves into frame for a split second. |
146 | 34:49 | OTS | Same man takes a drag from a cigarette. |
147-149 | 34:56 | OTS | Same man holding a lit cigarette, same glass ashtray & pack of cigarettes on table. |
150 | 35:02 | MD | Same man holds his lit cigarette at center screen next to a photo of a hydrogen bomb mushroom cloud. |
151 | 35:07 | MD | Smoke rises from man’s implied cigarette as Josh Brolin looks at the photo. |
152 | 35:12 | MD | Repeat of man holding his lit cigarette next to a mushroom cloud photo. |
153 | 35:15 | OTS | Smoke rises from man’s implied cigarette as Josh Brolin gets a telephone call. |
154 | 35:18 | OTS | Same man with lit cigarette in his mouth. |
155 | 35:21 | MD | Smoke rises from man’s implied cigarette as Josh Brolin talks on the phone. |
156-157 | 35:26 | OTS | Same glass ashtray & pack of cigarettes are partially visible on table. |
158 | 35:28 | MD | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
159 | 35:34 | OTS | Same glass ashtray is partially visible on table. |
160-168 | 37:15 | ES | Four men holding cigarettes, man holding a pipe, man holding a pack of cigarettes, smoke rising from cigarette offscreen, pack of cigarettes & ashtray on coffee table. |
169-177 | 37:22 | ES | Repeat of four men holding cigarettes, man holding a pipe, man holding a pack of cigarettes, smoke rising from cigarette offscreen, pack of cigarettes & ashtray on coffee table. |
178-183 | 37:27 | WS/OTS | Two men holding cigarettes, smoke rising from an implied cigarette, man places pack on table, same ashtray & pack of cigarettes on coffee table. |
184-192 | 37:35 | ES | Six men holding cigarettes, man smoking a pipe, same ashtray & pack of cigarettes on coffee table. |
193-194 | 37:44 | MD | Two men holding lit cigarettes as George Clooney sits down. |
195-196 | 37:46 | 2S | Two men holding lit cigarettes. |
197-198 | 37:48 | MD | Same two men holding lit cigarettes beside seated George Clooney. |
199-201 | 37:51 | OTS | Three men holding lit cigarettes. |
202-204 | 37:57 | OTS | Two men holding cigarettes & smoke rising from man’s implied cigarette. |
205-207 | 38:09 | OTS | Same two men holding cigarettes (one at the dead center of screen) & smoke rising from man’s implied cigarette. |
208-209 | 38:13 | 2S | Two columns of smoke rising from implied cigarettes. |
210-211 | 38:17 | 2S | Same two columns of smoke rising from implied cigarettes. |
212-214 | 38:24 | OTS | Same two men holding cigarettes & smoke rising from man’s implied cigarette. |
215-217 | 38:30 | MD | Man holding a lit cigarette exhales smoke at center screen, man holding a pipe, a pedistal ashtray is visible. |
218-220 | 38:37 | OTS | Same three men holding lit cigarettes. |
221-222 | 38:39 | OTS | Smoke rising from an implied cigarette & same pedistal ashtray is visible. |
223-226 | 38:44 | MD | Two columns of smoke rising from implied cigarettes, man holding a pipe, same pedistal ashtray. |
227-229 | 38:46 | OTS | Same three men holding lit cigarettes. |
230-231 | 38:50 | 2S | Smoke rising from an implied cigarette & another man about to take a drag from a cigarette. |
232-234 | 38:53 | OTS | Two men holding lit cigarettes & another man taking a drag from a cigarette. |
235-240 | 39:02 | WS/OTS | Three men holding lit cigarettes, same two packs of cigarettes & ashtray on coffee table. |
241-242 | 39:12 | OTS | Man with lit cigarette in his mouth & another man about to light a cigarette. |
243-244 | 39:16 | OTS | Two men taking drags from cigarettes. |
245-246 | 39:22 | 2S | Same two men with cigarettes. |
247-248 | 39:29 | 3S | Same two men with cigarettes. |
249-251 | 39:36 | 2S | Same two men with cigarettes & a small silver ashtray is now visible on the side table. |
252-253 | 39:40 | MD | Man holding a pipe clears his throat & same pedistal ashtray is visible. |
254-256 | 39:41 | 3S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
257-258 | 39:42 | MD | Same man holding a pipe & same pedistal ashtray. |
259-260 | 39:45 | MD/Dolly in | Same man holding a pipe & same pedistal ashtray. |
261 | 40:02 | Dolly in | Same man holding a pipe. |
262-265 | 40:10 | 3S | Same two men with cigarettes; one ashes into a new ashtray on lamp table & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
266-268 | 40:16 | 3S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
269-271 | 40:22 | 2S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
272-274 | 40:25 | 3S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
275-277 | 40:33 | 2S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
278 | 40:41 | MD | Same man holding a pipe. |
279 | 40:50 | MD | Same man holding a pipe. |
280-282 | 40:58 | OTS | Same man holding a pipe, man holding a cigarette & same pack of cigarettes on coffee table. |
283-284 | 41:00 | 3S | Same two men with cigarettes. |
285-287 | 41:05 | 2S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
288-291 | 41:07 | 3S | Same man holding a cigarette, same silver ashtray on side table, pack of cigarettes & same ashtray on lamp table. |
292-295 | 41:13 | OTS | Same man holding a cigarette, same silver ashtray on side table, same pack of cigarettes & same ashtray on lamp table. |
296-299 | 41:18 | 3S | Same man holding a cigarette, same silver ashtray on side table, same pack of cigarettes & same ashtray on lamp table. |
300-303 | 41:26 | 3S | Same man holding a cigarette, another man about to pull a cigarette from pack, same silver ashtray on side table & same pack of cigarettes on lamp table. |
304-307 | 41:29 | MD | Two columns of smoke rising from implied cigarettes, same man smoking a pipe, same pedistal ashtray. |
308-310 | 41:38 | 2S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
311-314 | 41:40 | MD | Man holding a cigarette, same man smoking a pipe, same pedistal ashtray & smoke rising from an implied cigarette. |
315-317 | 41:41 | 3S | Same two men with cigarettes & same small silver ashtray on side table. |
318-328 | 41:49 | WS/BE | Four men holding cigarettes, man holding pipe, ashtray & pack on lamp table, ashtray & pack on coffee table, ashtray on lamp table, pedistal ashtray. |
Over 100 tobacco incidents in a mere five minute scene and somehow it doensn’t even feel bloated… UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!!!!! | |||
329 | 43:19 | HH | A silver ashtray is briefly visible on Josh Brolin’s secretary’s desk. |
330 | 47:25 | OTS | A pedistal ashtray is visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
331 | 47:35 | OTS | Same pedistal ashtray visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
332 | 48:40 | MD | Same pedistal ashtray partially visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
333 | 48:51 | OTS | Same pedistal ashtray visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
334 | 49:40 | MD | Same pedistal ashtray partially visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
335 | 49:55 | MD | Same pedistal ashtray partially visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
336 | 50:08 | MD | Same pedistal ashtray partially visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
337 | 50:25 | OTS | Same pedistal ashtray visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
338 | 50:31 | MD | Same pedistal ashtray visible in Josh Brolin’s office. |
339-341 | 50:50 | BE | The bartender with cigar & two brass ashtrays are visible on back bar. |
342-343 | 50:58 | MD | The bartender with cigar & same brass ashtray visible on back bar. |
344 | 51:04 | WS | The bartender with cigar is visible behind Channing Tatum. |
345-346 | 51:42 | HH | The bartender with cigar & a brass ashtray on table behind Channing Tatum. |
The gold ashtrays that appear throughout this sequence look strangely similar to the orange bowls of peanuts but you can usually tell by comparing the color & bowl shape. | |||
347-348 | 51:57 | HH | Continued from previous: Same two brass ashtrays are visible on back bar. |
349 | 52:13 | HH | Continued from previous: Another brass ashtray is visible momentarily on back bar. |
This is an extremely clever reveal after Channing Tatum slaps the guy passed out on the bar who only wakes up to sing his part. The ashtray is only revealed after he raises up his beer to sing. | |||
350-356 | 52:24 | WS | Five brass ashtrays are visible on tables & same two ashtrays on back bar. |
351 | 52:58 | FS | Same brass ashtray is visible on background table. |
The ashtrays on the tables have now vanished so the sailors can do their choreographed tap dancing. | |||
352-356 | 53:04 | WS/BE | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar, bartender with cigar, same brass ashtray on background table. |
357 | 53:15 | FS | The bartender with cigar. |
358 | 53:25 | MD | The bartender with cigar. |
359-363 | 53:28 | WS/BE | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar, bartender with cigar, same brass ashtray on background table. |
364-365 | 53:32 | MD | The bartender with cigar & same brass ashtray on back bar. |
366-369 | 53:33 | WS/HA | Same two brass ashtrays on back bar, bartender with cigar, same brass ashtray on background table. |
370-372 | 53:38 | ES/Pan | Two brass ashtrays are visible on background tables & bartender with cigar. |
373-375 | 53:44 | WS | Same two brass ashtrays on back bar & bartender with cigar. |
376 | 53:46 | MD | The bartender with cigar. |
377 | 53:47 | HH | Same brass ashtray on back bar as Channing Tatum slides down the main bar. |
378-381 | 53:48 | FS | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar & bartender with cigar. |
382-386 | 54:19 | WS/BE | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar & two ashtrays on tables. |
387-388 | 54:22 | WS | Same brass ashtray on back bar is partially visible & bartender with cigar. |
389-392 | 54:26 | MD | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar & bartender with cigar. |
393-396 | 54:36 | WS | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar & bartender with cigar. |
397-400 | 54:38 | FS | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar & bartender with cigar. |
401-406 | 55:13 | Crane | Same two brass ashtrays on back bar, bartender with cigar & two brass ashtrays on background tables. |
407 | 55:20 | WS | Same brass ashtray on background table. |
408-413 | 55:23 | WS/HA | Same two brass ashtrays on back bar, bartender with cigar holding a tray with a brass ashtray on it & two brass ashtrays on background tables. |
414-419 | 55:30 | WS/HA | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar, bartender with cigar holding a tray with a brass ashtray on it & brass ashtray on background table. |
420-425 | 55:37 | WS/HA | Same three brass ashtrays on back bar, bartender with cigar holding a tray with a brass ashtray on it & brass ashtray on background table. |
426-427 | 55:39 | MD | Closer view of bartender with cigar and a tray with a brass ashtray on it. |
428 | 55:44 | FS | Same bartender with cigar. |
429 | 55:46 | MD | Same brass ashtray on background table. |
430 | 55:48 | MD | Same bartender with cigar. |
431-434 | 55:54 | Dolly | Same bartender with cigar & same three brass ashtrays on back bar. |
435 | 56:12 | WS/Dolly | Same bartender with cigar. |
436 | 56:19 | 2S | Same bartender with cigar. |
437 | 56:30 | 2S | A crew member with a cigarette behind Josh Brolin. |
437 | 56:31 | OTS | Same brass ashtray on back bar. |
438 | 56:35 | OTS | Same crew member with a cigarette in background. |
439 | 56:44 | OTS | Same crew member with a cigarette in background. |
440 | 57:02 | OTS | Same crew member with a cigarette in background. |
441-442 | 57:23 | WS | The bartender with a cigar & same brass ashtray on background table. |
443 | 57:26 | MD | The cleaning woman puts a lit cigarette in her mouth so she can put on her gloves. |
444-447 | 57:29 | WS/ES | Same cleaning woman with cigarette, two men smoking cigarettes & glass ashtray on lamp table. |
448-451 | 57:55 | ES | Same two men smoking cigarettes & at least two ashtrays are visible. |
452 | 58:08 | OTS | A green porcelain ashtray is partially visible next to a decorative silver lighter on the coffee table. |
* | 58:15 | OTS | An issue of Life magazine & Fortune magazine are partially visible on the coffee table. |
453 | 58:15 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
454-455 | 58:19 | OTS | Man with a cigarette & same glass ashtray on lamp table. |
456 | 58:22 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
457 | 58:26 | MD | Closer view of man with a cigarette. |
458 | 58:28 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
459 | 58:31 | MD | Repeat of man with a cigarette. |
460 | 58:33 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
461-465 | 58:47 | 2S | Two men with cigarettes, two green porcelain ashtrays & a glass case containing dozens of individual cigarettes. |
Who on earth would bother to put a decorative box of individual cigarettes such as this in a period movie simply as texture? I can think of a thousand other more eye-catching, more fun things to insert as a throwback to the golden era but the Coens always seem to have their heart set on cigarettes. | |||
466 | 58:50 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
467 | 59:03 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
468 | 59:09 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
469-474 | 59:50 | WS/OTS | Same two green porcelain ashtrays & case of cigarettes on coffee table, man smoking, ashtray on lamp table, man with pipe. |
475 | 60:06 | MD | Same man with pipe sits down. |
476 | 60:12 | MD | Repeat of man with pipe. |
477 | 60:25 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
478 | 60:37 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
479-483 | 60:57 | WS/OTS | Same two green porcelain ashtrays & case of cigarettes on coffee table, man smoking & ashtray on lamp table. |
484 | 61:04 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
485 | 61:09 | OTS | Same green porcelain ashtray partially visible on coffee table. |
486-491 | 61:18 | ES | Three men with cigarettes & three clear glass ashtrays. |
492-495 | 61:23 | ES | A man with a cigarette & same three clear glass ashtrays. |
496-498 | 61:28 | ES | Same man with a cigarette & same two clear glass ashtrays. |
499-502 | 61:36 | ES | Same man with a cigarette & same three clear glass ashtrays. |
503-505 | 61:40 | ES | Another man with a cigarette & same two clear glass ashtrays. |
506-508 | 61:47 | ES | Same man with a cigarette & same two clear glass ashtrays. |
Coincidentally or not, a man walks in front of the man smoking and then takes a drink of his coffee… Could the Coens be trying to tell you something? | |||
509-511 | 61:53 | ES | Same man with a cigarette & same two clear glass ashtrays. |
512 | 63:15 | ES/MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
513 | 63:19 | FS | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
514 | 63:24 | OTS | A puff of smoke from Frances McDormand’s implied cigarette. |
515 | 63:25 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
516 | 63:27 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
517 | 63:29 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
518 | 63:32 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
519 | 63:34 | CU | A lit cigarette & puff of smoke are visible over the film editing machine. |
520 | 63:35 | OTS | Frances McDormand exhales a puff of smoke. |
521 | 63:36 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
522 | 63:43 | MD | Smoke rises beside Josh Brolin as he leans down to view the film footage. |
523-524 | 65:06 | FS | B&W film footage: crystal ashtray on lamp table & background man with cigarette. |
525 | 65:21 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
526 | 65:24 | CU | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
527 | 65:27 | CU | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
528 | 65:30 | CU | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
529 | 65:31 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
530 | 65:32 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
531 | 65:35 | OTS | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
532 | 65:36 | MD | Frances McDormand with a cigarette. |
533 | 65:38 | MD | Frances McDormand takes a drag from a cigarette. |
534 | 65:41 | 2S | Frances McDormand exhales a puff of smoke at Josh Brolin. |
535 | 65:50 | MD | Smoke rises beside Josh Brolin as he leans down to view the film footage. |
536 | 65:53 | FS | B&W film footage: same background man with cigarette. |
537-539 | 66:12 | Dolly | Two ashtrays on the bar & man with cigarette. |
540-541 | 66:14 | MD | Pack of cigarettes on table & man with cigarette. |
542 | 66:24 | MD | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
543 | 66:25 | OTS | Same man with cigarette. |
544 | 66:30 | OTS | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
545 | 66:35 | OTS | Same man with cigarette. |
546 | 66:40 | OTS | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
547-548 | 66:44 | 2S | Same man with cigarette & glass ashtray on table. |
549 | 66:54 | OTS | Same man with cigarette. |
550-551 | 66:57 | OTS | Same man with cigarette & dialog: “Cigarette?” |
552 | 67:00 | OTS | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
553 | 67:01 | OTS | Same man with cigarette. |
554 | 67:03 | OTS | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
555-557 | 67:05 | MD | Same man with cigarette, same pack of cigarettes & glass ashtray on table. |
558-560 | 67:12 | MD | Same man with cigarette, same pack of cigarettes & glass ashtray on table. |
561-562 | 67:16 | MD | Same man with cigarette & same pack of cigarettes on table. |
563 | 67:17 | MD | Smoke rises in front of Josh Brolin from man’s implied cigarette. |
564-565 | 67:18 | MD | Same man with cigarette & same pack of cigarettes on table. |
* | 70:18 | FS | Josh Brolin’s wife is holding a can of Hills Brothers coffee. |
566 | 70:26 | MD | Josh Brolin’s wife dialog: “How’s it going with the smoking, dear?” |
567 | 70:38 | CU | Josh Brolin takes a drag from a cigarette whilst driving. |
568-572 | 70:56 | MD | Two men with cigarettes, two packs & orange glass ashtray on the table. |
573 | 71:03 | 2S | Man about to light his cigarette with a Zippo lighter. |
574-575 | 71:05 | CU | Pack of cigarettes & green porcelain ashtray on coffee table. |
576 | 71:09 | 2S | Same man decides not to light his cigarette & closes the Zippo lighter. |
* | 71:21 | CU | Date of 1951 is clearly visible on the communist id cards. |
* | 71:26 | 2S | What appears to be a green glass ashtray behind the lamp. |
577 | 71:28 | OTS | Man with cigarette behind George Clooney. |
578 | 71:37 | OTS | Same man with cigarette behind George Clooney. |
579-581 | 72:07 | ES | Three gold cannisters ashtrays in the theater lobby. |
582 | 72:53 | MD | Man in second row exhales a puff of smoke. |
583 | 73:24 | MD | Same man in second row with cigarette. |
584-585 | 73:50 | WS | Same man with cigarette & woman with cigarette. |
586-587 | 74:03 | ES | Two men with cigarettes walking by as Josh Brolin pulls his car to a stop. |
588-589 | 74:09 | ES | Man with cigarette walking by & chauffer with cigarette leaning against a car. |
590 | 74:13 | ES | Same chauffer smoking a cigarette. |
591 | 74:21 | FS | Man smoking a cigarette as Josh Brolin enters a building. |
592-593 | 74:42 | ES | Large ashtray & pack of cigarettes with Zippo lighter on top on Jonah Hill’s desk. |
594-595 | 74:53 | ES | Same ashtray & pack of cigarettes with Zippo lighter on top on Jonah Hill’s desk. |
596-597 | 75:05 | ES | Same ashtray & pack of cigarettes with Zippo lighter on top on Jonah Hill’s desk. |
598-599 | 75:10 | ES | Same ashtray & pack of cigarettes with Zippo lighter on top on Jonah Hill’s desk. |
600 | 75:40 | ES | Same ashtray partially visible on Jonah Hill’s desk. |
601 | 75:49 | MD | Scarlett Johansson about to light a cigarette with a Zippo lighter. |
602 | 75:52 | OTS | Scarlett Johansson about to light a cigarette with a Zippo lighter. |
603 | 75:54 | MD/OTS | Scarlett Johansson lights a cigarette with a Zippo lighter. |
604 | 75:59 | OTS | Scarlett Johansson holding a lit cigarette. |
605 | 76:01 | MD/OTS | Scarlett Johansson holding a lit cigarette. |
606 | 76:04 | OTS | Scarlett Johansson holding a lit cigarette. |
607 | 76:06 | MD/OTS | Scarlett Johansson holding a lit cigarette. |
608 | 76:10 | MD/OTS | Scarlett Johansson holding a lit cigarette. |
609 | 77:08 | 2S | A brass ashtray on the table between Josh Brolin & his secretary. |
Another expert tactic often used by the Coens: zooming out about one inch without you even noticing… In the previous view from this angle the ashtray was below the frame… Now on the second viewing the shot is framed about one inch wider so the ashtray is now visible. | |||
610 | 77:19 | 2S | Same brass ashtray on table between Josh Brolin & secretary. |
611 | 77:57 | OTS | A glass ashtray on the table next to the salt & pepper. |
612 | 78:05 | OTS | Same glass ashtray on table next to the salt & pepper. |
613 | 78:08 | OTS | Same glass ashtray on table next to the salt & pepper. |
614 | 78:22 | OTS | Same glass ashtray on table next to the salt & pepper. |
615 | 78:28 | OTS | Same glass ashtray on table next to the salt & pepper. |
616 | 78:41 | OTS | Same glass ashtray on table next to the salt & pepper. |
617 | 79:15 | OTS | Same glass ashtray on table next to the salt & pepper. |
618 | 79:36 | MD | A pack of cigarettes on the silver-haired man’s table. |
619-620 | 80:10 | WS | Silver-haired man with cigarette & cigarette girl in background. |
621 | 80:29 | WS | Same silver-haired man with cigarette. |
622 | 80:40 | WS | Man in background with a cigarette. |
623 | 80:43 | MD | Same glass ashtray on table next to the pepper. |
624 | 80:45 | WS | Cigarette girl partially visible in background. |
625-626 | 80:47 | ES | Background woman in white gloves with a cigarette & smoke rising from a man passing by. |
627 | 80:54 | MD | Same background woman in white gloves with a cigarette. |
628 | 80:57 | MD | Same background woman in white gloves with a cigarette. |
629-631 | 80:58 | ES | Two men with cigarettes & same woman in white gloves with cigarette. |
632-640 | 82:59 | ES | George Clooney with cigarette & ashtray on side table, two ashtrays & two packs of cigarettes on card table, ashtray on backgammon table, glass case of cigarettes on coffee table, ashtray on lamp table. |
641-642 | 83:02 | MD | Closer view of George Clooney with a cigarette & ashtray on backgammon table in background. |
643-644 | 83:10 | MD | Repeat of George Clooney with a cigarette & ashtray on backgammon table in background. |
645-650 | 83:18 | Dolly/OTS | Pack of cigarettes & ashtray on card table, George Clooney smoking cigarette & ashtray on side table, ashtray on backgammon table in background, glass case of loose cigarettes on coffee table. |
651 | 83:25 | MD | Same ashtray on backgammon table in background. |
652 | 89:07 | ES | A man smoking a cigarette whilst sitting on a rock. |
* | 90:00 | MD | Interesting George Clooney dialog: “…the studio is nothing more than an instrument of capitalism…” |
The Coen brothers might actually be telling the truth here, but it comes across like a joke, which is actually the real irony behind the whole operation. | |||
* | 93:51 | George Clooney passes by two goat & he also has two winged lions with goat-horns on his breast plate. | |
Perhaps a strange nod to “The Men Who Stare At Goats” which is a known instrument of propaganda & disinformation. | |||
653 | 96:55 | CU/LA | Josh Brolin dialog: “I snuck a cigarette. Or two.” |
Can Josh Brolin’s confessions be attributed to the Coens brothers’ ongoing moral dilemma of fooling the masses with their cigarette-laden films? | |||
* | 105:41 | End Credits Tobacco Disclaimer: Universal Pictures has not received any compensation or other consideration or entered into any agreement relating to the appearance of any tobacco products in this picture. | |
HARDY FUCKING HAR BITCHES! I guess it really was a passion project after all. Yeah right! |
Additional Thoughts…
I had already begun writing this expose about the Coen brothers when I finally saw Hail, Caesar! (2015) but I already knew deep in my gut I was going to be exposed to some massive amounts of smoking. I knew it was going to be another wild ride but I had no idea as to the depths the Coens would go to honor tobacco. In many ways, this is the Coen brothers’ most devious and diabolical film to date. Trust me, they have seriously honed in on their craft by this point. The tobacco references are absolutely littered throughout the film and delivered by many celebrities including Josh Brolin, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, and even, sadly, the George Clooney.
Beyond the hundreds of tobacco incidents, the Coen brothers actually use this film to deliver many embarrassing truths about Hollywood and the studio system. Within the dialog of Hail, Caesar! (2015) you will find many truths, half-truths, and metaphors about life, wealth, communism, religion, and the film industry in general. This film tries to be a gritty reflection of life inside the walls of a large studio during the golden age of Hollywood… You know, but like with tobacco finding its way into every scene.
“The studio is nothing more than an instrument of capitalism!”
Quote from George Clooney’s character in Hail, Caesar! (2015)
Ironically, when you first pop in the Blu-Ray or DVD for Hail Caesar! (2015) an ad for Tobacco Free California plays immediately following the Universal Studios logo with an interesting message: Which moments are you willing to give away since every cigarette shortens your life? Tobacco is still killing 1 in 5 Americans. Gee, I wonder why?! They slap a little warning on the disk yet this million dollar tobacco-ridden masterpiece was actually rated PG-13 so younger viewers are always welcome to watch. The biggest shame is that Hail, Caesar! (2015) portrays so many of our favorite lovable actors as smokers instead of just being themselves.
But don’t take my word for it. Lets take a look at the very first scene in Hail, Caesar! (2015). At nearly one and a half minutes into the film, actor Josh Brolin appears in a confessional booth and confesses his sins to a priest…
JOSH BROLIN: I lied to Connie, uh to my wife.
PRIEST: This is very serious.
JOSH BROLIN: I know. I promised her I’d quit smoking. She thinks it’s bad for me. And I’m trying but… I snuck a couple of cigarettes. Maybe three.
[ sound of distant thunder rumbling ]
Sure enough… The fucking opening scene of the movie. Knock knock and guess who. My old pal and yours… tobacco!
She thinks it’s bad for me. Thinks! Meaning it isn’t really bad for you, right Josh Brolin? Subtle. Very subtle. I guess we are supposed to be impressed because this character is trying to quit smoking. Either way, I guess I can see where the rest of this film is heading. Now when Josh Brolin smokes it will be something he can be ashamed about, so that makes it okay, right?
Watching this opening scene in Hail, Caesar! (2015) I suddenly felt like all of my crazy theories about the Coen brothers & Big Tobacco were carved in marble. I only wished my book could have been released to all fans of the Coen brothers around the world before this particular film. People could have read all of this filthy dirty information and then watching Hail, Caesar! (2015) they would have surely gotten a good chuckle about a whole new kind of understanding behind the film, especially subtle moments like this.
In the second scene of the movie, we hit the ground running when actor Josh Brolin smacks a girl around then talks briefly with two uniformed police officers (one of whom is smoking a cigarette). Basically the second scene ends with Josh Brolin turning backward to look into the camera and asking “Can I bum a cigarette?”
Can you see where this film is heading? As I mentioned, this is only the second scene of the movie and someone is asking “Can I bum a cigarette?” Seriously, no bullshit, Hail, Caesar! (2015) is like a two hour commercial for cigarettes. And a propaganda film for the Hollywood studio system. And communism.
“The picture has worth, and you have worth if you serve the picture!”
Quote from Josh Brolin whilst smacking George Clooney around
Another interesting part… At one point during the film, Josh Brolin actually declines a cigarette onscreen and mentions how he is trying to quit. Back at home, his wife asks “How’s it going with the smoking, dear?” but basically the next shot is Josh Brolin driving in a car whilst smoking a cigarette. Really? I guess he’s not trying too hard to quit.
In another glorious scene, actress Scarlett Johansson appears as a mermaid at the center of a carefully choreographed water ballet which indeed mimics the golden age of Hollywood. The amazing sequence ends when Scarlett Johansson has her mermaid suit yanked off and she quickly lights up a cigarette with her Zippo lighter. For some reason, Scarlett Johansson acts like she can’t breathe until she starts sucking on a cigarette. Trust me, the Coen brothers are playing this tobacco thing from every angle, especially the old adage that cigarettes actually calm you down or reduce stress.
“Would that it were so simple.”
So there’s this beyond-cliche ‘movie within a movie’ thing happening inside the movie Hail, Caesar! (2015). You know, that thing where this movie is actually about filmmakers making movies? Yeah, that tired old shit. The ‘movie within the movie’ in this case also happens to be titled “Hail, Caesar!” but with some additional tagline about Christ. The primary actor inside the ‘movie within the movie’ is actually superstar George Clooney — he plays a Roman who encounters some Jesus-type figure.
During the Coen brothers’ film however, old George Clooney gets kidnapped from the set of “Hail, Caesar!” and ends up talking to all of these disgruntled communist writer guys. While trying to recruit Clooney into their gang, most of these communist guys sit around smoking. Tobacco pipes, cigarettes, cigars… All kinds of them. Heck, even George Clooney ends up smoking a cigarette by the end of the film.
Alarmingly, Hail, Caesar! (2015) marks George Clooney’s fourth collaboration with the infamous Coen brothers, but this is the first time old Georgey boy ever agreed to smoke a cigarette on screen. Poor George!
In one scene of Hail, Caesar! (2015) Josh Brolin pops in on actress Frances McDormand who is editing another ‘movie within a movie’ that the studio is making. Frances McDormand is hard at work during this scene, but that doesn’t stop her character from enjoying a nice juicy cigarette. Whilst threading up a film reel for Josh Brolin’s character to watch, Frances McDormand’s neck scarf gets caught up in the flatbed editing machine and she begins to choke. After Josh Brolin helps her by reversing the playback, a startled Frances McDormand gives the line “Guess I shouldn’t wear scarves” but instead of gasping for air, the first thing she does is take a big drag from her cigarette. Seriously, her character too acts like cigarettes are better than fresh air. By the way, McDormand’s character decided to hold onto to her cigarette rather than save herself — that’s pretty remarkable if you ask me. Considering old Frances is married to Joel Coen in real life, I’m guessing that she knows how the game is played.
In another extravagant musical number starring Channing Tatum, a bunch of sailors sing & dance around a bar at closing time. As the energetic sailors perform their homo-erotic dances all around the “Swingin’ Dinghy” bar, the big surly bartender smokes a cigar. If you look very closely in this scene, not only will you notice the bowls of peanuts on the bar but you can also spot dirty ashtrays scattered around as well. Eventually the fourth wall is broken during these musical numbers which usually brings viewers back to the Josh Brolin narrative. At the surface, these hilarious musical numbers do add some Hollywood glamour to the film but in reality, these scenes only give the Coen brothers more ways to sprinkle in the tobacco products.
Yes the Coen brothers’ most recent film Hail, Caesar! (2015) is just a never-ending slew of celebrity tobacco references mingled with some jokes, some religious shit, some communist shit, a couple of musical numbers, and a bunch of ‘movie within a movie’ shit all rolled around it like a big shit cigar.
In all honesty, there are all sorts of odd characters to love, but most of these guys are always smoking cigarettes for no apparent reason at all. Seriously, it never adds a thing to the character. I mean, the first time you see a random cleaning woman, she is vacuuming. It’s funny. The next time you see her, she is standing around smoking a cigarette for no apparent reason at all. It’s also funny, but what the fuck man? Maybe the Coens aren’t so diabolical after all.
At the very end of Hail, Caesar! (2015) actor Josh Brolin once again visits the same confession booth where he again admits to smoking some cigarettes. Ultimately, the priest absolves Brolin’s character by saying he comes to confession too often and “You’re not that bad.” These two highly religious confessional scenes are like nice calm book-ends to an otherwise hectic movie. Kind of the like that strange cowboy that book-ends the Coens’ earlier film The Big Lebowski (1998).
Honestly, this latest film Hail, Caesar! (2015) has so much Hollywood propaganda (not to mention cigarettes) that it actually kind of hurts your head… So again, maybe the Coen brothers were able to achieve some remarkable goal here — they made smoking seem kind of harmless compared to all this other heavy shit going on within the film.
And what about that nice long tobacco disclaimer that appears during the end credits…
Universal Pictures has not received any compensation or other consideration or entered into any agreement relating to the appearance of any tobacco products in this picture.
No compensation? Oh well, I guess this tobacco thing really was a passion project for the Coen brothers after all. Yeah right! Eat a dick, Joel & Ethan… I’ll see you right back here for “Scarface” or whatever their next feature film is.