Monday, March 12, 2012

"Hugo" Review

    Whoa! Two reviews in a week. I must really feel bad about taking a vacation. but hey, I love my like, 2 followers. they deserve the best I can give. Speaking of the best one can give, why don't we take a look at one of the best film's of 2011. This is Hugo.

    For those who don't already know, Hugo is based on the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. It is directed by a little director named Martin Scorsese. It follows the adventure of orphan Hugo (Asa Butterfield), who lives in a train station in 1930s Paris. He befriends Isabelle (Cinema Won Favorite Chloe Mortez) and together, they discover the mysteries surrounding Isabelle's godfather Papa Georges (Ben Kingsley) and explore the world of cinema.
    So what works in Hugo? Well, pretty much everything. The setting is absolutely gorgeous. The effects transport you instantly in Hugo's world and the bright colorfulness of it is enough to make anyone smile. The characters are all wonderful and you get invested in every single one right when the step on stage, even the ones that appear for less than a few minutes.


They're watching Hugo. It's hugo-ception.

    The story though is what really makes the movie more than spectacular. The world of Hugo mixes perfectly with the world of the cinema which the movie so clearly adores. The way they talk about movies is the way many film fans, myself included, feel about film and it is a bit difficult not to get teary-eyed at some points. This is clearly a project Scorsese has been wanting to make for the longest time and he has hit it out of the park. The visual captivate you when you see the movies being made and you spend most of the time wishing you can be there right along side the characters. Best of all, most of what is on screen is true, so you get a little history lesson right along side a great movie.
    Of course, not everything works great. the acting, namely by Butterfield, does feel a bit stiff. And, as much as Mortez has become one of my favorite new actors, she sometimes doesn't feel quite right in the role. Almost like she's a bit too aware of her surroundings. Also, the movie is long. Clocking in at just over 2 hours, there are a few sideplots, mostly one with two little dogs, that while they do add to the feeling that anything can happen, are just unnecessary.


This may not have been the best plan.
    Hugo falls just short of being a masterpiece. The setting is wonderful, the acting great, the story awesome. But it does have a few small problems that need ironing out. But with the way this film talks about film, it's hard not to find yourself enchanted by the world of Hugo and the world of film, especially if you are a huge film fan. Hugo is one of the best films of the year. It will overtake Warrior as my number four favorite film of 2011. Hugo get a 6 out of 6. 

1 comment:

  1. At least your two followers are more faithfu than my 5!

    ReplyDelete