Review: Hugo (2011)

Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver)

Cast: Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas), Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass, Let Me In), Ben Kingsley (Schindler's List, Shutter Island), Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Bruno), Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island, Lars an the Real Girl), Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars), Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Cold Mountain)

The Deal: Hugo (Butterfield) is an orphan who lives in the walls of a Paris train station, diligently keeping the station's clocks functioning. Hugo's attempts to fix an old automaton left by his late father (Law) and his run-ins with the old man (Kingsley) who owns the stations toy shop push Hugo down the path of discovery, but only the young girl Isabelle (Moretz) holds the key to solving Hugo's mystery.

Thoughts: Critic's seem to describe this film as a throwback and ode to filmmaking, and whether or not you find this your cup of tea, they couldn't be more correct. The first thought in my mind after seeing the film was the trailer was a little misleading in a sense that it put so much emphasis on the automaton, when in fact the film is about its characters, and the robot is just a plot device. It threw me off, but I wouldn't call it disappointing. This is a film you need to watch to understand. Right about now I'm getting the feeling anyone reading this review may be thinking I am throwing caution flags for all potential viewers, but do not be mistaken, the film is worth seeing.

I fully enjoyed the characters in the film, every one of them, small role to large. They were all fleshed out nicely, and each served a purpose in driving the plot, even Sacha Baron Cohen, who's prior work leaves much to be desired in my eyes. These were real people struggling with real issues, their lives more intertwined than they realized. The path each character had taken through life is reflected in their actions, and it's only when you finally learn of their past that the realization hits you, and you completely connect with them.

The story itself is very straightforward, and with no real knowledge going in, I didn't expect where it was going to take me. The film is a work of art, a homage to film's past. You get a real look into the start of it all; soundless films that only make you laugh as you watch them come to be. The enjoyment you feel is reflected the same way to the characters in the film, and it quickly becomes clear that films are more than stories, but works of art meant to inspire and fascinate its viewers. This is a film about why we love films, and Scorsese executes it so well. To be honest, the film is unlike any other, and that may be a good or a bad thing to viewers, but anyone who calls themselves a true film lover will find something to connect with.

Verdict: Hugo isn't for everyone, but to the serious film viewer, it is a wonderfully executed piece of art full of rich characters that will remind you not only why you love films, but why films are always more than just a story. ☆☆☆☆