There have been some truly epic movies and Hugo just fits on my Top 5 of all time. I have been a fan of Scorsese for a long time having watched his classics as The Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Gangs of Newyork, The Aviator and many more. Each of them have been either a character or a genre understudy. When it was announced that he was making a movie of the book by Brian Selznick (The invention of the Hugo Cabret) after it was so suggested by his grand-daughter, I was in anticipation of how Scorsese would bring this lovely story to life. All the more a veteran having decided to embrace the 3D technology was met with some deal of skepticism, me included.
There are decidedly infinite reasons why I recommend Hugo. Here are some of my thoughts (May contain some spoilers)-
The Story - However you look at it, the story, always sounds simple. A boy named Hugo Cabret is orphaned as his father (played by Jude Law) dies in a fire accident, leaving behind an Automaton(A robot) which has a secret. How this boy goes about unlocking this delightful secret and the discoveries he makes of people around him forms the crux. All though, as I earlier pointed out, the story sounds earnestly simple, but is all the more beautifully layered and has a great deal of depth.
The setting - From the lovely setting at a train station of Paris, Hugo from his father has mastered the art of clockmaking and chiming. There are a host of delightful characters at the station. Each of the characters are watched and studied by Hugo from behind a large station clock, which is also his dwelling place. There is the toy seller who is grumpy at most times, a station master with a touch of evilish charm, an elderly man and lady with a dog, a charming florist, an elderly librarian and many side characters.
The Characters(along with performances) - Asa Butterfield, plays Hugo and is admittedly charming. He embraces the brave yet emotional Hugo Cabret, with a twinkling set of eyes. Ray Winstone in a short role plays Hugo's uncle. Ben Kingsley, essays the role of a toy seller at the station (more about him later). The ever so charming and wonderful Chloe Grace Moretz, plays Hugo's friend and a grand daughter to Ben Kingsley. Moretz will no doubt go a long way and turn to be one of the best actresses in the coming generation. Emily Mortimer, comes late into the movie and is terrific in her short role!! Sacha Baron Cohen is the evil station master and plays the role with an old school charm. Watch him when he is asked to smile by the lady whom he sees at the coffee bar. Its a clapworthy scene. However the special mention and the film's most bravura performance comes from Ben Kingsley. Without giving much away about his character, he is the biggest key to the mystery of the Automaton. This is a performance that enhances Kingsley's already possessed reputation and in the latter part of the film is sheer magic.
The 3D- Exceptional. That's one word to describe the usage of the effects. The 3D in this movie is used with a lot of purpose. Its not a shove in your face cheap 3D that is being used in movies lately. After Avatar this is the only movie, which deserves a 3D experience.
Martin Scorsese - Its been said that awards have eluded this giant of a filmmaker over the years. There are many who judge films and their directors by their awards cabinet. All though alluding to this may bring about some doubtless classics to the fore, just following them blindly, is injustice to oneself and the filmmakers. I have no doubt also been charmed by the Oscar's over the years, but I clearly have learnt a lot. No amount of awards can merit the genius of Scorsese and his movies over the years. Clearly @ 69 his isn't done and there is a lot he has to offer. If you have a chance and are a fan of the Beatles, his documentary, George Harrison, Living in the material world, is a chanceless piece. Hugo is most definetely, Scorsese's most personal film to date. The hidden and deepest feelings of his journey as a director is laid out in the film in many parallel references. So is his tribute to one of the greatest directors, George Meiles and the references to Lumiere brothers.
If I was allowed to rate a film as 6 stars out of 5, then this definetely is one of them. Embrace Divinity.
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