a passionately crafted visual spectacle of a lovely story

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2012)

i was expecting a passionately crafted visual spectacle of a lighthearted, lovely story. the film pretty much excels in all fronts. much has been said about the cinematic virtues, from the indeed jaw- dropping tracking shot early on (a completely crazy camera traveling. an occupation of space that marvelously defines the geography and imposes Scorsese's singular vision of this universe) to the animated recreation of the silent films, through the enhancing atmospheric use of 3D (this is the first 3D film i see. and the fact is i never bothered much with 3D. but the 3D here serves as a toy, or rather a tool, allowing Marty to exercise his art, embracing the most advanced technology of the moment to pay tribute to his ancestor, who had grasped that film could not be dissociated from technology and that it should be nourished from it) and all of it looks as gorgeous as one could hope for.
throughout his years, Martin Scorsese never ceased to scream his love for cinema, which transpires references indirectly inside of his work, apparitions and implications in restoration of heritage films. yet he never really attacked it from the front, to make it the heart of his films, his cinephilia. with Hugo, he had the opportunity and through the adventures of this young orphan, he finally introduces one of cinema's great magicians George Méliès. nevertheless, this should not limit Hugo to a simple homage. this story is so huge, modern and nostalgic all at once, it takes everything in its path.
i find a lot of merit in the story-telling approach. without skimping on a burlesque humor that sparingly distills it, the film delivers a tale not as cruel as tradition demands but very sad. this sadness doesn't appear immediately, it is gradually established as the figure of George Méliès gradually emerges. we then switch through gigantic mechanical workings, to get to something very human. touchingly symbolized by the repair of the automaton. and as Hugo said, everything has a reason for being. this film is magical in a raw sense, and sometimes, it doesn't shy away from being literally magical, adventurously spirited
surprisingly for a Scorsese picture, i found the editing to be a bit rushed on the chase scenes.. but for a film that aspires to represents a timeless ideal, i'm willing to forgive every little detail, should i feel like nitpicking on