Hugo is another film that I knew nothing about until my cinema buddy told me to check out the trailer. Even then, while I wanted to see it, I wasn't overly drawn in. Then as bad luck would have it, I was struck down with a horrible cough almost as soon as Hugo was released. And as I heard more and more good things about it I wanted to see it more and more. In the end I was so concerned that I would miss it that my cough be damned, I went to the cinema to watch it.
Hugo (Asa Butterfield) is the boy of the film's title. Following the untimely death of his father (Jude Law), his uncle (Ray Winstone) takes him to work - and live - in a train station in Paris in the 1930s. After his uncle leaves him there, Hugo decides to stay and carry on winding the clocks, figuring if the clocks are still running, the people at the station will just assume it's his uncle doing the work, and he'll be allowed to stay there, as he has no other home to go to. In his spare time, Hugo is trying to repair an automaton that his father brought home to fix before he died. One day, the toy shop owner Hugo had been stealing parts from, Georges Méliès (Ben Kingsley), decides to steal something from Hugo to make them even. He takes Hugo's notebook, which once belonged to his father, and so begins Hugo's quest to get the book back. Hugo gets a lot more than he bargained for however when Georges past comes to light.
Hugo is such a charming film, an absolute pleasure from start to finish. The fact that it was directed by Martin Scorsese makes it all the more incredible. Now I'm not saying old Marty is not a good director. I'm sure we all agree that he has made some magnificent films, but these are films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, more recently Gangs of New York and Shutter Island. He's not exactly known for charming kids films.
The other impressive thing about the film being directed by Martin Scorsese is that this is the first time he's shot a film in 3D. And I think this might be the most impressive use of 3D I have ever seen. Everything pops, like a feast for your eyes, from the dust in the train station to the people on screen, it's a visual treat. Mr Scorsese hasn't gone down the classic route of having things come out of the screen, instead he's just made everything three dimensional. It's honestly amazing use of 3D. If you see Hugo, and I highly recommend you do, you should see it in 3D.
3D gushing aside, everything about Hugo is a joy. The setting is perfect, the train station is smoggy and dusty and full of fascinating characters. The little passageways that Hugo has to squeeze through in his daily routine of winding the clocks have a maze-like quality to them. The cast is a delight, the previously unknown Asa Butterfield has an innocence about him but also seems like an old head on young shoulders. I don't think Ben Kingsley has been better for many years, finally putting aside his hammier acting and tackling something seriously really pays off. Sacha Baron Cohen is brilliant casting as the Station Inspector, simultaniously making you loathe him for being Hugo's nemesis but also wanting him to get the girl. I can't fault anyone. And it's lovely to see Christopher Lee in the smaller, supporting role of Monsieur Labisse, a likeable character for him for once.
This is the type of film which my mum would say gives you 'the feel good factor', you come away from it feeling somewhat enriched by it. It's also the type of film you could take your kids to and your grandma and each of them would get something out of it. Before it leaves the cinema I urge all of my readers to go and see Hugo (in 3D) and marvel in it's storytelling greatness. 9 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 18th December 2011
UK Release Date - 2nd December 2011
Cast Overview:
Asa Butterfield ~ Hugo Cabret
Ben Kingsley ~ Georges Méliès
Chloë Grace Moretz ~ Isabelle
Sacha Baron Cohen ~ Station Inspector
Helen McCrory ~ Mama Jeanne
Ray Winstone ~ Uncle Claude
Emily Mortimer ~ Lisette
Christopher Lee ~ Monsieur Labisse
Michael Stuhlbarg ~ Rene Tabard
Frances de la Tour ~ Madame Emilie
Richard Griffiths ~ Monsieur Frick
Jude Law ~ Hugo's Father
Kevin Eldon ~ Policeman
Director ~ Martin Scorsese
Writer(s) ~ John Logan (Screenplay) and Brian Selznick (Book)
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