Logan's Legacy

Rating: 10/10 (6 March 2017)

"Logan" is the fierce and touching elegy of the hero's redemption. "Logan" is amazing. The movie is bloody, inspired, and sublime. Hugh Jackman is powerful and nuanced. As the aging and fading Logan, Jackman remains the sinuous beast, but with boldly reinvented vulnerability. Newcomer Dafne Keen with her innocent wide eyes possesses the child's truth. She is a star. Director and writer James Mangold's hero's journey moves us, and will make you cry. I read an interview with Hugh about his last incarnation as Logan after being him for 17 years. He said that he will miss Logan as a best part of himself. Jackman is transcendent in "Logan".
"Logan" is set in 2029. Mutants like Logan are no longer—possibly having been exterminated in this future. Logan is aging and grayed; his powers are fading. He heals much slower—the bullets and his retracting Adamantium claws are bloody and hurt. He is no longer the hero he once was. He is a limo driver, who drinks way too much. Logan is dying, and faces his own mortality.
He and his beloved mentor Charles, played by powerful Patrick Stewart, are among the remaining Mutants. 90-old Charles was the most powerful telepath is a hallowed shell, now bed ridden suffering mind altering seizures and dementia. Logan along with Mutant albino Caliban, played by compassionate Stephen Merchant, care for Charles. Perhaps, there is another Mutant still out there?
Charles tells Logan that he is "A disappointment..." Logan has lost his purpose. Logan struggles with who he has become—something I can empathize.
"Logan" opens in stark tone. Thugs wake sleeping Logan while stealing the rims from his limousine. The thieves dismiss his warnings. Though riddled with bullets, Logan slashes and maims with skilled savage rage. "Logan" has the feel of "The Road Warrior" or "Unforgiven". Mangold even does homage to "Shane". Those stories were about the redemption of the nihilist or anti-hero; however, Mangold's Logan profoundly fights for love. After having a beautiful dinner with a family they helped, Charles tells Logan, "This is what life looks like"
The hauntingly calm Pierce with eerie mechanical hand played by charismatic strong Boyd Holbrook, tracks down Logan in El Paso asking him for information about some 'missing property'. Pierce is an agent for Transigen Corporation that does unspeakable experimentation with Mutants. Logan has no idea, until she finds him.
She is wide eyed and silent little girl Laura—the other Mutant. Logan and Charles must take Laura to North Dakota so that she can find sanctuary with other young Mutants across the border in Canada. Charles tells Logan, "She's like you she's very much like you." Pierce and his mercenaries are relentless and find Logan, Charles, and Laura at their refuge. Laura announces her presence unleashing her merciless fury upon her enemies. She has great agility and strength, also possessing Logan's Adamantium claws and warrior skills. Keen and Jackman are spectacular battling together against their underestimating opponents. Initially, Charles and Logan suspect Laura may be a clone of Logan.
In an eloquent touch Logan discovers Laura is a fan of the "X-Men" comics and Wolverine. He dismisses telling her most of the stories are "bullsh**". Meanwhile, a figure from the past Dr. Rice played by the reserved evil Richard E. Grant as the head of Transigen is about to unleash his most ferocious creation.
Logan becomes Laura's protector; she is like family, like blood. She needs him to be her hero. Charles reminds Logan of what we already knew. His fading powers and claws aside, what makes Logan the hero, is the man he is. He just needs to remember that, and reclaim himself. This fight is different now: Logan fights for love.
In "Logan" the battles are fierce, vicious and costly. Before the climactic battle, Laura and Logan share. Logan says that everyone he ever loved gets hurt. He has hurt people. Laura says, "I hurt people, too Bad people." Logan confides, "You are going to have to live with that, too."
Jackman and Keen are the beating hearts of "Logan". Jackman's Logan tragically weeps over his loss; Keen's Laura holds his bloody hand with her own. Keen's closing moments as little Laura speaks to our very humanity. Jackman as Logan poignantly says, "So this is what it feels like"
The hero deserves to find his own measure of peace and love at the end of his journey. We honor this as well, because we deserve the same. "Logan" is the hero story of amazing grace and power. It is one of the best. Thank you, Hugh Jackman for being our hero.