Great characters of history and literature are like jazz standards. They can be newly interpreted for each generation. But when I heard that George Clooney was going to play Caesar, I thought, “He has some big sandals to fill.” It was like Michael Bublé singing Fly Me To the Moon.
George takes a firm grip on his sword.
Fortunately, the film in question is a comedy by the Coen Brothers, titled Hail Caesar. It’s set on a back lot of a studio in the golden age of Hollywood. That explains Clooney’s risible Caesar costume. It’s a knockoff of Marlon Brando’s getup in Julius Caesar (1953). The Romans would have been incredulous at this “armor.”
Brando’s costume as Antony in “Julius Caesar”
A comic Caesar, especially one by the Coen Brothers, is something to look forward to. In the meantime, here’s the Frank Sinatra of Julius Caesars, from HBO’s Rome. It just doesn’t get any better than Ciarán Hinds.
The Chairman of the Board
“My Kind of Town”
“Luck Be A Lady”
“Somebody Loves Me”
“It Was A Very Good Year”
“Yessir, That’s My Baby”
“Love and Marriage”
“The Lady Is A Tramp”
“My Way”
And Happy 99th Birthday in memory of Frank Sinatra who was born Dec. 12, 1915!
I was about to shout “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” when I’ve read the title of your post in Twitter but, OK, if it’s a Coen’s comedy in those circumstances I agree with the casting choice. 🙂
I’ve seen several Caesar’s and Mr. Hinds will always be for me the ideal one (in flesh and bones, I love also Goscinny & Uderzo’s Asterix Caesar 😀 ) he was just perfect for the role, as James Purefoy was perfect as Mark Antony.
I just looked up the Asterix Caesar. He’s adorable! But why the white hair??
They say that Caesar was nearly bald, but the casting of Hinds is one instance where I don’t insist on historical verisimilitude 🙂
Well, I guess because of his age? Trajan was the one with beautiful white shining hair, as long as I know.
Yes, I appreciate also that historical license 🙂
I didn’t know Trajan had white hair! He had plenty of it, I know that from his portraits 🙂
Yes, it is said that he proudly showed it during the battles, he idn’t put the helmet on to be recognized by his soldiers. He was recognized also by his enemies and he risked being killed by Parthians archers; the arrows reached his praetorians though and some died.
Good heavens! Amazing to think that Roman emperors took the battlefield. They certainly did not lack for courage…
Clooney is a hoot, but this is Frank Sinatra’s birthday, as you’re aware from my new post MY WAY on http://www.theobservationpost.wordpress.com/ – a year from today, he will have been 100 years old. As you said in your comment to that post, “He was the biggest of big timers.”
Good heavens. I hadn’t realized it was his birthday. I’m glad that I managed to pay a little tribute to Mr. Sinatra with today’s post. And I’ve figured out my playlist for this evening 🙂
This made me laugh – a great post and a great idea. Thanks.
Thanks to you! Glad you enjoyed it on this 99th birthday of the Chairman of the Board.
You had me worried for a second there, phew, a Coen brothers movie and all is right with the world once more. And Happy Birthday Mr S, we have been listening to some old school Christmas CDs with the likes of Frank and Bing. Well cool.
Frank and Bing! Love them both. I really ought to write about them, but as subjects they are overwhelming!
I laughed when reading Barsine’s comment because I was screaming the same thing when I first saw Clooney. Oh, good heavens, I hope he has the savvy comic chops to do the Coen brothers proud. I cannot wait to see how this turns out.
And your marriage of Sinatra and Ciarán is absolutely perfect. What a great giggle this post ended up.
Oh yes, I think George is a good comedian. I loved him in “O Brother Where Art Thou”!
LOL to think of the marriage of Sinatra and Ciarán. I think their child might be Van Morrison 🙂