Hugo

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Good Movie

Hugo is one of those rare children's film that doesn't treat children like, well, children. The story is far from saccharine--even if it is a tad improbable, that is the idea of adventure. And, much like this year's The Artist, it is also a love story to film that is probably lost to kids, but very clear to adults. What is also very clear in the story is the open-eyed wonder of the world with which the children approach everything. For them, all is possible and should be. And the adults, in their various ways, encourage or otherwise enable that. Scorsese manages to create a near magical sense in a story that absolutely no real magic.Chloe Moretz continues to impress me. In many ways she's already becoming an adult actor as her child roles (e.g., Kick-Ass or Let Me In) are not exactly your typical children; they're very much adults in child bodies. This role is a partial exception in that her character's outlook is a bit naive, but she is still very much her own person and taking care of herself and others.And in the titular role, Asa Butterfield looks to be an excellent choice for the upcoming Ender's Game movie. He managed a subtlety of expression not often available to young actors and was as comfortable in silence as he was talking.Some of the strengths of the film were also some of its weaknesses, which is why this wasn't quite a 5 star film for me. Over time, and re-watch, I may change my mind on that, but initially it hasn't quite cleared that bar. The dual edge is that it is a children's film through and through. Where some films of similar quality manage that and still have rich dialogue and realistic action, both the direction and dialogue left it feeling like a children's story to me. The adults were somewhat thin and over-acted. The kids weren't far from Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney putting on a show in their attitude. That doesn't quite capture what I'm trying to put my finger on here, but it is as close as I can come at the moment. And, to be fair, that doesn't make it bad, it just doesn't make it something I needed to own right right away (though I eventually gave in just for the visuals). It has neither the pure escapist magic that makes a children's movie unavoidably endearing, nor is it quite adult enough that it speaks to my inner child in a compelling way that requires me to have it on-call for bad or confusing days where I need a vacation or guidance.Interestingly, for me, was that I've experienced something of what the Kingsley role went through. In my last major move across country, 20 years of photos from my years in theatre were lost due to exhaustion and bad judgement during packing. My entire identity felt ripped away, and still does, for that aspect of my life. But even with that direct connection, his story wasn't quite central enough for me to latch in whole-heartedly.This is an extraordinary movie and will be remembered for a long time--in fact, I suspect its success will grow over time as more people discover it now that the Oscars have graced it with so many statuettes. And who know that Marty had such a soft center underneath all that darkness and violence?

'Hugo' tells the story of a boy named Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who only wants to find his purpose in life. He spends his days in a Parisian train station running the clocks and observing the everyday activities of interesting side characters. Hugo is an orphan whose father (Jude Law) died in a museum fire and the only thing Hugo has left of him is a mechanical man called an automaton. Hugo believes that by fixing the automaton, he will recover a message from his father and will find just what part he is in the great machine that is the world.Hugo meets a crusty old toymaker (Ben Kingsley) while trying to steal parts for the automaton. The toymaker, who is first known as Papa Georges, takes a notebook from Hugo, which is vital in helping Hugo fix the automaton. After following Papa Georges to his home in hopes of getting his notebook back, Hugo meets Isabelle (Chloe Moretz). Isabelle soon becomes Hugo's only friend and through their adventures, they find out that there's more to Papa Georges than meets the eye.While this is all going on, Hugo has to avoid capture by the ruthless station inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen). What's eventually revealed is that Papa Georges is the forgotten filmmaker Georges Melies, who is in the most simple terms, one of the most important pioneers in film history. A great appreciation for what Melies did is found, but more importantly, 'Hugo' makes any movie-goer appreciate the magic that is the movies in a way that brings warmth to the hearts of all who witness it.Butterfield does a fine job in the title role. Subtle and sensitive, he makes the character of Hugo believable. Moretz is delightful as Isabelle. Something tells me that she has potential to do greater things. Baron Cohen moves beyond 'Borat' and 'Bruno' and shows true acting chops while providing some needed comic relief in what is other wise a serious film. Baron Cohen certainly stands out as one of the strongest members of a wonderful supporting cast. The supporting cast includes: the station inspector's flower lady love interest (Emily Mortimer), two lovers separated by a dog (Frances de la Tour, Richard Griffiths), and Georges Melies' wife Mama Jeanne who is played by Helen McCrory with a gentle sensitivity and compassion for her husband. All of these people add much-appreciated personality and delight that makes the difference between a great and excellent movie. Kingsley, as Melies, is nothing short of sensational. This was, in my eyes, a huge snub for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars.'Hugo' is one of the most visually dazzling movies you will ever see. It boasts the best use of modern 3D technology since 'Avatar'. It is a beautiful portrait of a movie that secures its excellence with a strong cast, compelling story, and a superb directing job by Martin Scorsese. 'Hugo' will leave you feeling wonderful while instilling a greater appreciation for how far films have come and how it can be a masterful form of art. A+As for the product, 'Hugo' has to be one of the best movies that one can view in Blu-ray. A film that is filled with stunning CGI visuals and Oscar-winning cinematography, Blu-ray brings out the best of this visual masterpiece. I do not have capabilities to view the 3D version right now, but I bought it anyway as an investment for the future that is worth it. There will come a time when every TV and Blu-ray player will be able to play 3D. That future is not so far away.I want to address complaints about the Ultra Violet digital copy. All one has to do is copy the code into the 'Redeem' section of the iTunes Store homepages (top right-hand corner of the page) or follow the other instructions on the bottom half of the instructions (gray background). In short, do not mess with the Ultra Violet part if you don't want to risk it.