Hugo (2011)

Scorsese’s triumphant family film that reinvents the technical abilities of movies, and rediscovers our passion for them. Set almost entirely in a bustling train station, Hugo (Asa Butterfield) lives within the space above the platforms, anonymous amongst the commuters, and, mostly, hidden from the staff. Having been abandoned by his carer uncle for some time, Hugo looks after the station’s massive clock, making sure that it continues to run on time, whilst scavenging for food amongst the shops. Aside from surviving in the station, the boy is also attempting to fix an automaton, left to him by his deceased father, which Hugo hopes will contain a message for him. During his day to day activities, Hugo eventually catches the attention of several people. Firstly, a toy shop owner (Ben Kingsley), who catches Hugo stealing, and forces him to work in order to pay off his debt. Secondly, a girl called Isabelle (Chloé Moretz), who is the granddaughter of the toy shop owner, and who befriends Hugo, and joins him on his quest to find the secret behind the automaton. Lastly, Hugo catches the attention of the Station’s inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen), who is determined to rid the station of loitering, thieving kids. A sentimental film, and one that not only dwells in the thoughtful story, but utterly submerges itself. There is no urgency within the plot to move on, no demanding factor driving the characters towards an immediate conclusion, which is, strangely, a refreshing approach to filmmaking. Scorsese, best known for gangster flicks like Goodfellas (1990) or Casino (1995), brings to this film a complete devotion to the nature of film. As the movie moves towards its second half, the plot even contains some of the earliest moments of cinema, adding to the sense of wonderment and dream-like qualities of film. Cinematically, this film is untouchable. The aesthetics are superb, amazing use of colour and locations, and some of the sequences are masterful in their execution. One small criticism is the plot in the first half of the film, which seems to meander aimlessly for a while, which made it hard to get into. But, being a Scorsese film, it is definitely worth watching.