Hugo Reviews

Our Review

Scorsese's foray into the family-friendly

Grant McAvaney, MovieFix

When I heard that Martin Scorsese was directing a 3D children's film, I wondered: what's next? David Lynch directing a romantic comedy? But the end result, Hugo, is a mostly successful departure from Scorsese's usual world of tough cinema.

This visually beautiful film takes us to 1930s Paris, where wide-eyed Hugo (Asa Butterfield) and his caring, clockmaker father (Jude Law), are mesmerised by hopes of restoring a defunct automaton machine. Following the tragic death of Hugo's father, the young orphan is transferred to the care of his disinterested, alcoholic uncle, a vagrant charged with the responsibility of winding the clocks of a Parisian train station.

Hugo slumps into a hard life of poverty, surviving by living in the walls of the station and feeding off the scraps of commuters and station vendors, while avoiding the watchful eye of the station inspector (a hilariously bumbling Sacha Baron Cohen). Hope of a better life transpires from a mystery requiring Hugo and his friend Isabelle (Chloe Moretz) to explore the origins of the automaton and its connection to Isabelle's toy-making godfather (Ben Kingsley).

Hugo reminds us that cinema need not treat children like idiots – instead, Scorsese's film is intelligent, original and romantic. While there is darkness in the film, Hugo also reminds us that while we are all a little broken and scared, beauty in this world still abounds.

No-one could be faulted for their acting, but it's Moretz who steals the show, exhibiting yet again a depth beyond her years.

I wonder, however, whether Hugo attempts to achieve too much. Several stories beyond the main mystery are explored in the film, but sit uncomfortably outside the main narrative rather than being weaved within. That (small) criticism aside, Scorsese's look at the history of cinema is impressively shot, reminiscent of Baz Luhrmann's The Red Curtain Trilogy.

Hugo is an exuberant and enchanting family film that may just be this generation's Willy Wonka.

Your Reviews

fungooleyruley

I enjoyed it to some extent but am flabbergasted that it has scored so many Oscar nominations. One award it does deserve would be for set decoration which was gloriously done. The storyline itself didn't do much for me as I am in my early 50's. It is a sweet story which would certainly entertain kids in the 8 to 12 year age bracket.

TLC

I found the movie Hugo to be extremely boring! I kept waiting for the movie to move forward with what the story was about exactly! I dont feel you will find too many children entertained and as for the adult audience you will love it or hate it! I give it 2 stars. The scenery was beautiful however the story line and slowness let this film down. If your into art films then this is for you, very slow passed film.

Glenda Fox

I loved it but the toy shop scenes could have shown more of the toys Hugo repaired & Ben Kingsley encouraging him & giving him food, he must have been starving! Isabelle should have smuggled him food. I expected an explanation for the fire & thought the Uncle did it.

matthew

Hugo is a different film from Martin Scorsese and it's a Major Achievement from one of the master film directors working in cinema today. BEAUTIFUL.

Troy Campbell

Many reviewers have labelled this kiddie-friendly adventure as Martin Scorsese’s “love letter to cinema”, and quite frankly, I couldn’t have put it better myself. Set in a train station in 1930’s Paris, Hugo tells the story of the titular orphaned boy (Asa Butterfield – occasionally grating in his overplayed innocence) who will do anything to fix the life-like robot left to him as he believes – hopes – it contains a message from his dearly beloved father, all the while discovering how cinema began thanks to a chance encounter with a grumpy old store owner (Ben Kingsley). Although played out honestly enough, it’s merely a means for Scorsese, a self-confessed cineaste, to show off his encyclopaedic knowledge of all things movie-related; and, boy, it truly is a wondrous world we’ve been invited into by the maestro. Complete with flawless 3D that adds tremendous depth, countless references to pre-sound motion pictures and another incredible turn from Chloe Grace-Moretz, this is one trip that any self-respecting movie aficionado must take.

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