Review of Hugo (2011) by Dean M — 07 Mar 2013
Hugo's 11 Oscar (R) nominations amounted to five technical awards is rather apt (and still impressive). Martin Scorsese's first movie suitable for children is one romantically enthralled by the process of creating cinema, and like anyone in blissful ardour, it's content to lovingly linger on every minute detail almost indefinitely.
This isn't a film in which the adventure unfolds with great bursts of energy, but one in which every mystery solved opens up a new one, slowly weaving a wonderful web of wonder and delight. It is a film made by a film lover for film lovers.
Hugo (underplayed touchingly by relative newcomer Asa Butterfield) is an orphan living alone in a vast French train station, who meets a new friend (a just-the-right-side-of-precocious Chloë Grace Moretz) who holds a key that curiously fits an automation given to Hugo by his father.
It's not a fast-moving film, but the director's affection and delight bleeds through every frame, especially when recreating George Méliès finest cinematic moments (ably assisted by yet another wonderful performance by Ben Kingsley as the legendary French director).
It's akin to watching a child excitedly tell you about the amazing thing they discovered today, but with greater vocabulary and vastly more impressive pictures.
This review of Hugo (2011) was written by Dean M on 07 Mar 2013.
Hugo has generally received very positive reviews.
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