One of the Best

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2011)

Martin Scorsese's most recent film is touching, exciting, and remarkably beautiful. Although the famed director is known for such gangster movies as Goodfellas and The Departed, he may have achieved his greatest moment with this family film.
Based on Brian Selznick's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the film follows the life of the title character: an orphan living in the walls of a Paris train station. Hugo's father was a clock maker, and one day found an old, rusted mechanical man in the attic of a museum. The father and son decide to repair this automaton together, trying to discover what message it will write when cranked. But before they can finish, Hugo's father dies, and the boy must live with his drunken Uncle at the train station—at least until he disappears, too. Now Hugo spends his time stealing parts from a toy maker to fix the automaton, and constantly avoiding the station inspector.
The film, however, is about much more than just this young boy. The subject of the birth of film is a major theme, focusing on the marvelous and dream-like work of George Melies, who practically invented the way modern movies are made. Scorsese is right at home in discussing and paying tribute to these classic and bizarre films.
The dream quality of Melies' work spills over into Hugo. The film is so involving and engrossing that this reviewer became completely entranced, forgetting the outside world in favor of Scorsese's take on a majestic 1930's Paris. Scorsese does a particularly good job of making every shot absolutely breathtaking. The snowy Paris nights and the reproductions of old films are nothing short of enchanting.
Asa Butterfield plays Hugo, giving sincerity in his performance, something that is rarely seen in actors. Chloe Grace Moretz is great as the girl that enters Hugo's life, filled with worldly knowledge beyond her years. Ben Kingsley is fantastic as the bitter old toy maker, and Sacha Baron Cohen gives a surprising amount of big laughs as the station inspector.
While the 3D is nice, it certainly isn't necessary. In fact, the 3D was so good because for the most part it remained unobtrusive. There are some very nice moments inside the walls of the train station and with the clockwork, but nothing really worth the extra cash.
Hugo is a masterpiece, and one of Scorsese's all time best. Filled with allegory and fable, the film is enjoyable on a multitude of levels, and is a fun, glorious adventure for people of all ages.
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