Review: Hugo

If you take Academy Award nominations as an absolute barometer of whether a movie is good or not (which I do not), then clearly without seeing the movie Hugo, you would have to believe that there is something of merit in it – especially since it garnered 11 nominations.  I don’t know why I passed this film over during this past Oscar season, but I think that the marketing drove that decision.  To me it skewed young and had an almost animated feel to it.  Now having watched the movie on the heels of a series of terrible rentals, I can’t believe I waited so long to see it and have been reminded how refreshing it is to watch a cinematic master direct a film.

The plot of the Hugo follows the life of an orphan who lives in a Paris train station set in the 1930’s.  As Hugo works to completely restore an automaton, his life is forever altered by a set of individuals whose own lives revolve around the comings and goings at that station.

What’s best about the movie is the story and how well it is told through the vision and direction of Martin Scorsese.  The look and feel of the film is stunning and the city framed and brought to life with an artistic flair.  As the movie unfolds, one cannot help but be wrapped up in the motion and the sound that punctuate the action.  It takes very little effort to become engaged and for your attention to be held.  This was most surprising for me as I went into the film questioning whether I would be entertained.

The cast of course is top notch.  Names such as Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, and Christopher Lee have a certain cache in acting circles and each lives up to their respective reputations.  Kingsley especially stands out of this foursome as he expertly delivers each line and punctuates it with just the right brand of emotion.  Jude Law – in limited screen time – is surprisingly good in this film as is Sacha Baron Cohen in a rare dramatic turn.  As for our protagonist Hugo, Asa Butterfield is good in the lead role but at times his relative inexperience shows.  However the experience of the cast surrounding him manages to cover up those minor flaws. 

Scorsese uses this cast, the sets, and the visual detail to create a perpetual sense of motion to the film – the motion of time, of intertwining mechanical pieces, of individuals traveling from place to place, and born from this orchestrated chaos he delivers a sub plot revolving around the concept of capturing motion pictures on film and its newfound place as a form of timeless art.  This part of the story is most elegantly told by Scorsese through Kingsley’s acting and as one who loves movies, I found this arc to be the most compelling in the film.

As you may have guessed by now, I believe this is a movie worth seeing.  It will not take but five minutes to realize that you are watching an expertly crafted product that is warrants both the time and effort it will take to rent/buy and watch it.  The one drawback to the film is that as fantastic a story as it is, I don’t feel overly compelled to watch it a second time.  However, one of the strength’s of the movie is that it is a smooth straight-line narrative sans any plot twists or gimmicks and this type of film lends itself to one good viewing.  Regardless, I recommend you watch it - with a loved one, a friend, or member of the family.  It matters not as it is suitable for all.  As for those who are fans of Ben Kingsley fans, be sure to keep an eye out for him starring opposite Robert Downey Jr. next year in the much-anticipated Marvel film, Iron Man 3.

Standout Performance: Chloe Grace Moretz gets the nod here not only for Hugo but also for her work in Kick-Ass, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and (500) Days of Summer.  At the age of 15, she has already turned in a number of stellar performances.