Scorsese's Love For Cinema

Rating: 9/10 (24 July 2013)

Hugo is a family film directed by Martin Scorsese. Hugo is an odd film for Scorsese to do as most of his films are much more mature, dark, and at times violent. Though different from his acclaimed films, it's damn entertaining.
I have seen a few of John Logan's screenplays, some are OK (The Last Samurai) and some are near perfect (Gladiator). Hugo would be at the same level as Gladiator for me. This film is adapted from Brian Selznick's novel entitled "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". This film is fun from start to finish, as it's an adventure film while at the same time a message saying that films from the past are important and in need to be preserved. The children may not care so much about the latter but just on the adventure alone makes this one hell of an experience. It's main focus is on Hugo but the times where it focuses on the other people from the train station, it's just as interesting. Being a children's film, sometimes the dialogue can be a little bit cheesy and it's present in this film but only minimally. The film's plot is easy to swallow and can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
Like I said, this is an odd turn for Scorsese but he still delivers. Scorsese has created something magical, using a story that also relates to his passion for films. A certain flashback sequence on Hugo reminds me of the same love and passion that Scorsese put on the Hell's Angels production scenes from The Aviator. Scorsese has also opened my eyes on the beauty of the distant era of cinema and it's beginnings.
The film is gorgeous from start to finish. Scorsese and Robert Richardson have captured the beauty of 1930s Paris and the train station that the film is set in. Richardson has created a magical, almost fantasy like image of Paris and definitely makes the film feel more like a pleasant dream. The beautiful imagery is supported with a wonderful use of visual effects, making the film feel more realistic but at the same time not losing that touch of magic and fantasy that makes the film so pretty. Richardson has, again, shot a period piece that brings out the beauty of an era that once was.
Howard Shore has done it again with Hugo, created a wonderful score that aids in putting the audience in this fascinating world and era, similar to what he did for The Aviator and Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings saga. His score here is more enlightening but without making it sound cliché or familiar.
I love seeing films with child actors that do not bring down the quality of the film. Both Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz gave strong performances that was at par with great actors like Ben Kingsley and Jude Law. I think both are going to have a very memorable career, so far Moretz is showing a lot of promise. Ben Kingsley as the toy maker was great and sweet, while Sacha Baron Cohen stole the scene when he comes on as his comedic delivery is fantastic. When he is on screen he is either doing something funny or showing vulnerability, which is very rare in his own films. Cohen has great chemistry with Emily Mortimer, who needed a little bit more screen time to make their relationships more empathetic but doing so may retract from the point of the film, nevertheless it's entertaining. Jude Law, Michael Stuhlbarg and Christopher Lee had minor roles but their presence makes the film all the more entertaining. Scorsese has a great cast that many other filmmakers would envy.
I came into the film thinking it may be not hold my interest as family friendly films don't really impress me as it is sometimes clouded by it's own restrictions and would generally end up being only a guilty pleasure or a holiday tradition film for me. Hugo is something I could watch over and over again as it is a love letter to cinema.