"Logan"- A devastatingly emotional and deeply satisfying conclusion for one of cinema's greatest heroes...

Rating: 10/10 (30 October 2017)

When Hugh Jackman announced his intention to retire from the iconic role of Wolverine, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. The sorrow felt by fans of the delightful "X-Men" film franchise was palpable. It rocked you right to the core. And for very good reason. Even with the passing of nearly two decades time, there was one thing of which we thought we were certain... that no matter what, Jackman would continue to be the tie that bound the series together, as he appeared in virtually every single film and always gave his entire being to the part that made him a star.
But for his own very valid reasons, he felt he said everything he could possibly say. He felt he had accomplished what he could accomplish after playing the legendary comic character for seventeen years. And thus, the choice was made- 2017's "Logan" would be his final turn in the franchise, and he would endeavor to make the best film he possibly could to reward all those who followed from the beginning and kept coming back to see him time after time. And he did it. "Logan", directed and co-written by James Mangold, is an absolute revelation. And it has emerged as not only one of the best films of the year... but also one of the greatest comic-book movies of all time. A devastatingly emotional and deeply satisfying conclusion to a character we've been following for many a year now.
Some time into the future, the world has changed once again. No new mutants have been born in almost twenty years, and what population remains has started to die off. This leads many to question just why they even existed... and if they were just some sort of cosmic mistake that was corrected by time. Logan (Jackman) has fled from society with the ailing and dying Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) after the end of the X-Men, and has created a new life as a limo- driver in West Texas. However, when Logan is approached by a mysterious woman, he finds himself thrust into what might be his final adventure- he is forced to protect a young girl called Laura (Dafne Keen), whom is being pursued by the devious Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) and his 'Reaver' task-force. And through their journey to escape to the Candian wilderness, Logan will learn dark and treacherous secrets that might hold the key to his salvation and Laura's safety...
There really is no single thing one could point to when talking about the great success of "Logan." It's one of those perfect machines where everything comes together to function as a whole. From the remarkable and hard-hitting story, through the many shocking twists and turns, to the solid and slick visual direction and the absolutely fabulous performances... it truly is the best possible note that Jackman could have gone out on in every way imaginable.
The script and handling of character is amongst the best I've seen across the entire "X-Men" movie franchise. The story crafted by Mangold, Scott Frank and Michael Green is thoughtful and poignant, yet also dark and morally ambiguous. The characters rich and complex, but not always inherently likable. And the stakes raising ever higher and higher constantly... yet also always managing to feel intimate and personal. It's a remarkable piece of work that often seems contradictory, but always comes together to form a cohesive whole. This is further aided by a simple and elegant sense of pace and structure, as the film wisely never goes too far. They keep it self-contained and never take their focus off of Logan and the journey he's on, nor bog it down with excessive action and effects. And Mangold tells the tale with a grim and gritty visual style that compliments it perfectly.
I'm often not a fan of studio-manufactured "gritty" visual direction. It's all too often used as a crutch, and leads to an unfortunate feeling of style over substance. But this is one of the rare cases in which it's not only warranted- but indeed necessary. Mangold's keen eye for visual storytelling allows him to tell this tale with gusto and ease, and the low-down, dirty aesthetic he gives to the film aids in its almost apocalyptic tone. It places you right into the story, and it never lets go, making you feel the same stark desperation that Logan and the others feel on their journey. It's masterfully handled, beginning to end.
And the performances are absolutely sublime. Stewart gives what might be his best turn as Xavier in a very sensitive way, as the man who once lead the X-Men has began to succumb to age and dementia. The role has an air of finality to it, and Stewart nails it. Keen is absolutely jaw-dropping and displays a talent far beyond her young age as a volatile figure that is ultimately a frightened and lonely child, and will melt your heart over and over again even as she lashes out and uses her abilities to do terrible things. Holbrook is adequately slimy and diabolical as the lead villain, and you can't help but love to hate him. And Jackman's final turn as Wolverine... is perfection. This really feels like the culmination of all that has come before, and Jackman knocks it out of the park in perhaps the greatest performance of his career. He's vulnerable, strong, cunning, scared, alone... he's just magic in the role, and you'll find yourself teary eyed as the film nears its end and the fact this is his final time playing the part starts to sink in.
"Logan" is a revelation. It's complex and heartbreaking. Conclusive and satisfying. And it truly is the best possible film they could have made. It truly is one of the year's best films and one of the greatest comic-book movies ever made. Period. And it easily earns a perfect 10 out of 10.