As great a movie as it is an intensely personal one for Marty.

Rating: 9/10 (18 January 2012)

Martin Scorsese made a family film? A wholesome one? And in 3D? GASP! Yes, believe it! Legendary director Martin Scorsese, best known for Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and The Departed, has made a terrific family movie out of Hugo.
First shot of praise goes to the film's cast. A talented bunch of actors to behold, each of them giving it their best, even if some cameos may seem superfluous (Honestly, anything's better with the great Christopher Lee in it). The movie's main focus is that of young Asa Butterfield, nailing the character of Hugo. He gives a very convincing performance, and tremendous sparks fly between he and his co-stars, whether he's holding his own against the secretive Papa George (The terrific Ben Kingsley), outwitting the relentless Station Inspector (The hilarious Sacha Baron Cohen), or sharing an adventure with the eager Isabelle (The lovely Chloe Moretz).
But this is still Marty's movie, and a very personal one for him. He and screenwriter John Logan have a delightful time dabbling in the history of film. Cinematic history practically courses through Scorsese's veins, and he infuses generous portions of his knowledge of cinema into the film. He excellently captures the spirit and nostalgia of old movies, movies that wowed audiences before technological advances in cinema (CGI, for example) were even thought possible. The film reaches more than a few levels of pure Cinema Paradiso inspiration. You can clearly tell that this was a passion project for Marty, and you might also say it was even based on himself in several ways.
On top of that, he's hired technical crew members who make the film look and sound incredible, no less than it deserved. Dante Ferretti's superb production design, and Sandy Powell's wonderful costumes are to die for. Bob Richardson's cinematography and Thelma Schoonmaker's film editing are pure aces, especially when showcasing the film's truly special effects. And Howard Shore writes a lovely, if sometimes over done, musical score complete with graceful piano and accordion motifs.
**** out of ****