Martin Scorsese's Love Letter To Cinema Is Both Endearing & Frustrating

Rating: Null/10 (25 February 2020)

An endearing love letter to the cinematic art form advertised as a big-budget, family-friendly adventure to its audience, Martin Scorsese's Hugo dazzles & captivates with its exquisite use of 3D photography but the wizardry it conjures in the art direction & cinematography section is missing on the storytelling front, for the narrative is slow, stale & devoid of compelling characters. And though the film captures the magic of moviemaking in all its glamour & glory, its wandering plot, clunky narration, bland characterisation, glacial pace & overlong runtime results in a dull, flat, tedious & emotionally vapid experience that will test the patience of many, if not all.