Review of Hugo (2011) by Julie T — 04 Apr 2013

Although wanting to see this I fortunately knew very little about the story, I hadn't read any reviews or spoilers and so I was carried along beautifully by the story as it unfolded . This is one of the best films ever made, neither a kids film nor an adults film it falls into the timeless classic category. I actually urge you not to read on, to trust and simply go with watching the movie without any preconceived ideas of its plot, as you will have a more enchanting experience that way. Ok so you want to know what it's about, I'll tell you.

Hugo is an orphan who lives in a Paris railway station where he winds the clocks and keeps his head down, he quietly watches humanity and fixes mechanical things mostly spending his time on an automaton which is all he has left from the father he adored. He is content with his lot, but craves a little human contact and eventually meets a girl who introduces him to books and he introduces her to movies. Still reading, shame but here goes, the girls " grand father" runs the little toy shop on the station that sells mechanical toys and Hugo has managed to upset him by helping himself to various items which is has used in the reconstruction of the automaton. Papa George ( the old gentleman), it is revealed , is non other than the great but now forgotten director George Melliere one of the fathers of the motion picture, fallen on hard times he has cut himself off from any contact with his old life and lives a reclusive life with his wife ( and star of his any films). The automaton , on which Hugo has been working, is the link that uncovers all this and what we thought was going to be a mildly supernatural film actually flows beautifully as a " realistic" movie. With a lovely twist we find ourselves both in a magical and real world, the magic of the movies brought to life by Melliere who was a magician and the magic of Mr Scorcese telling a touching story beautifully. At the end all I wanted to do was watch the whole thing again, it's a triumph and one of the best films ever made, I really wish you hadn't read this as it was lovely watching it with no idea of what was to unfold, but you have so now enjoy a screen gem.