Scorsese proves his versatility

Rating: 9/10 (29 January 2014)

There's so much to love about Hugo, I'm not really sure where to begin. The film is impeccably shot. Every frame is chosen with care and you can tell that the director has a passion for his work. This should come as no surprise from one of the greatest living directors, Martin Scorsese.
The film takes place in 1930's Paris and centers around a boy named Hugo who lives by himself in a train station. He has taken it upon himself to restore a mysterious machine that he and his father were working on. Hugo operates the many clocks that are spread throughout the train station. This is where some of the greatest shots take place. The cinematography while inside the bowels of the train station are simply stunning. This is also where the use of 3D truly shines. The gears and other inner workings of the clock literally make you feel like you are with Hugo as he makes his way around the hidden hallways of the train station. I've been pretty vocal about the 3D craze, but it's clear to me that, when in the right hands, 3D can be an amazing tool. Scorsese uses it to perfection here.
Hugo also pays homage to silent films. There are many scenes, especially early in the film, where there is no dialogue and the scenes play out while Hugo is spying on the inhabitants of the train station from the inside of his hidden lair.
One thing I want people to realize is that Hugo is not really a kids film. The trailer makes the film out to be a fantasy film, but that is a little misleading. In fact, the second half of the movie deals with the history of cinema and the preservation of the arts. A topic that most kids (and some adults, you know who you are:tongue:) would find pretty boring. As a fan of cinema, I found it to be fascinating.
The cast is great lead by relative newcomer Asa Buterfield who plays Hugo. Sometimes in the same scene he shows the strength of a young boy all on his own, with the fear of a child just yearning to be taken care of. Chloe Grace Moretz is superb as usual as a girl Hugo befriends who just wants to go on adventures. Ben Kingsley gives the films best performance as a shop owner who has lost his passion. Sacha Baron Cohen provides the films comic relief. Ray Winstone and Jude Law have small parts, but both are solid as usual. One complaint is that I wish there was more for Christopher Lee and Emily Mortimer to do.
Please don't dismiss Hugo as a kids movie. It's far more than that. Also, don't read into the trailers. This is not some fantasy adventure. That being said, Hugo is perfect movie escapism. It mixes mystery with themes about being a dreamer and to never stop doing what you're passionate about. One thing is for certain, Scorsese is passionate about making films and I, for one, hope he never stops making them.