Genre: Adventure, fantasy
Director: Martin Scorsese
Plot: In 1930s Paris, a young orphan boy tries to solve the mystery of a mechanical automaton left behind by his late father, and in the process helps an old man rediscover his love for his work.
The gist: It's a known fact that Martin Scorsese loves films very much, to the point that he makes a lot of effort to preserve movies in an archive over the years. After watching Hugo, I realised that this film represents Scorsese's passion for not just his work, but the entire concept of films and filmmaking.
You see, Hugo tells the story of Georges Melies, a film director whose unique work was long forgotten and destroyed, until a young boy named Hugo goes on an adventure which results in the rediscovery of what was once thought lost.
On the surface, it might seem like a magical fantasy kind of film, but Scorsese gives the film a lot of dramatic moments which grounds it while balancing it with the lighter and funnier parts. It's a sharp turn from what we're accustomed to from him, but this is proof that he can do something besides biopics and gangster flicks.
The good: Performances are excellent all around. Asa Butterfield and Chloe Moretz do a great job as Hugo and his friend Isabelle respectively. Ben Kingsley puts in an understated performance as George Melies, but it works. Sacha Baron Cohen is pretty much himself as the station inspector pursuing Hugo. The cinematography and music are also very well done, and the vibrant colours visible throughout makes the entire film stand out.
The bad: The subplot about Cohen trying to get the attention of a florist played by Emily Mortimer was distracting and unnecessary.
Verdict: Hugo is very entertaining and highly recommended for true fans of the movies. (4/5)
