HUGO (3D)
PG
127 Minutes
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: John Logan (Screenplay), Brian Selznick (Novel)
Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz,
Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer, Jude Law
Cast
* Ben Kingsley as Papa Georges, the toy shop owner.
* Asa Butterfield as Hugo Cabret.
* Chloë Grace Moretz as Isabelle, Georges' goddaughter.
* Sacha Baron Cohen as Inspector Gustav.
* Jude Law as Hugo's father, a clockmaker.
* Christopher Lee as Monsieur Labisse, the bookshop owner.
* Helen McCrory as Mama Jeanne, Georges' wife, godmother of Isabelle.
* Michael Stuhlbarg as René Tabard, a film historian.
* Emily Mortimer as Lisette, the flower girl.
* Ray Winstone as Claude Cabret, Hugo's uncle.
* Frances de la Tour as Madame Emile, the owner of the café
* Richard Griffiths as Monsieur Frick, the newspaper seller.
* Marco Aponte as train engineer assistant.
Well, it's official, Martin Scorsese ended his love affair with Leonardo DiCaprio. He wasn't in this movie and he is mysteriously absent from Scorsese's last film, the documentary on George Harrison.
Movie Tagline: One of the most legendary directors of our time takes you on an extraordinary adventure.
Geez, Martin Scorsese must really have a high opinion of himself. But no, it's a clever play-on-words; the film is about another director (George Melies).
HUGO has real actors, still, it felt like a cartoon, but not in a bad way.
Come On Baby Come Do the Loco-Motion
Hugo's father (Law) is a clock maker who has run short on time: he dies in a museum fire. His alcoholic uncle takes him in, makes him quit school, so he can help him maintain the clocks at a train station in Paris.
George Melies (Kingsley), owns a toy store at the train station. Hugo steals parts from his store, to restore a automaton—he and his father had been working on. Hugo has a small book of blueprints for the automation, and George takes it from Hugo. At this point, we don't know why the blueprints were not returned to Hugo.
Isabelle (Moretz), the awkward bookish girl, becomes friends with Hugo. She is an orphan herself, George Melies is her godfather, and is taking care of her.
Hugo and Isabelle: they had parts that were made for each other. She had a heart-shaped key, and it is the last missing part of the automaton.
George Melies: My life has taught me one lesson: Happy endings only happen in the movies.
Hugo: The story's not over yet.
Oops, I Lost My 'Train' of Thought
Big Ben...Kingsley! From Ghandi (1982), to Sexy Beast (2000), that guy is a constant disappointment. A pretty boy actor, taking any role he can; so he can sail his yacht in the Bahamas, and do coke all day with his six girlfriends.
Note to (Sir) Ben Kingsley: take a step back, and just let the grownups play make-believe.
Criticism
The romance between the station Inspector and the girl selling flowers; while tolerable, did not help the story much. Also , last time I checked—people in Paris speak French! I'm going to have to take off a few points for this deficit in authenticity.
Final Words
Mark my words: this film will win a Hugo in 2012. Hugos are awarded to the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous calendar year. How could it not, it's named Hugo. In 1960, Hugo Gernsback was given a 'Special Award': as 'The Father of Magazine Science Fiction'. Coincidence? ...Perhaps.
Final verdict 85 out of 100
