Hugo (2011) Review

A masterful picture made with an exponential love of early and classic cinema. Its wonderful cinematography coupled with an interesting cast of characters in a "keep you guessing" story makes Hugo Martin Scorcese's best film since Goodfellas.

Set in Paris in 1931 Hugo tells the story of a resourceful and imaginative orphan who, upon the death of his father (Jude Law), begins a quest to uncover the secret of an automaton (a mechanical man intended to use a pen and write a message). Convinced the message is from his father Hugo goes at great lengths to repair it. He hides in a railway station and runs the clocks all while avoiding the ever watchful Chief Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen) Hugo's journey brings him to the attention of a bitter toy-shop owner (Ben Kingsley) after he is caught trying to steal parts for the automaton. The toy-shop owner, Georges Méliès takes Hugo's notebook, which contains notes and drawings on the automaton, from him with the intent of burning it. Hugo follows Georges to his home where he meets Georges goddaughter Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz). Hugo and Isabelle follow all the possible clues which eventually lead them to a secret about Méliès.

Hugo is in many ways not a Scorcese film. There are no gangsters and the film is not Rated-R. It does however speak to Scorcese's adoration of film and his belief of protecting the films of the past. It is thoroughly upsetting that half of all films made before 1940 are gone. Hugo is his love letter to cinema and a well-made love letter at that.

Something that I was able to pick up on was the wonderful cinematography and digitally developed backgrounds. The backgrounds and shots of the Paris skyline look like glossier Matte paintings then we've seen previously. This film is all about escaping to the movies and the "not quite reality" look allows us to do just that. Your opinion may differ from mine about artificially created backgrounds but the work done in this film is a wonderful. Indeed the use of lighting and color in the film presents Hugo's relationship to each character. When Hugo is around Méliès there are a lot of blacks and greys and when he later runs into Isabelle the color turns to a hopeful gold. Whatever Hugo's particular feeling is at any given time is reflected in the film's look.

Distinguishably one of the better films of 2011 and most absolutely one of Martin Scorcese's best films he has ever made that presents a message that I unreservedly agree with. Movies and the experience of going to them are "what dreams are made of."

★★★★