Hugo is not the type of movie that you think of when you think of the director Martin Scorsese. You usually think of more violent movies such as Gangs of New York or The Departed. However, the same attention detail and the artistic arrangement evident in Scorsese’s other films are also found in Hugo. Hugo is an artistic film about a boy set in 1930s Paris, France. It touches on themes such as things that connect us to each other, and how memories can trap us and free us. It also has a running theme of everyone having a place in the world. This movie was nominated for 11 Oscars including Best Picture. It won five Oscars including Best Art Direction, Cinematography, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects.
Plot: Hugo is a boy who has been subjected to a series of unfortunate events. We never know what happened to his mother. His father dies in a work related accident after which, Hugo is given into the custody of his uncle. His uncle is a drunk who works and lives in the Paris Train Station.
Hugo comes from a long line of clock makers. His father fixed clocks for a living, and his uncle keeps the clocks in the Paris Train Station running. Hugo’s uncle teaches him how to run the clocks so he can have more time to drink. The uncle eventually disappears and Hugo is left on his own. He continues to keep the clocks running and spends his leisure time watching the people in the train station, and stealing the items he needs to survive. Occasionally he runs a foul of the Station Inspector who captures children and sends the runaways and orphans to the awful orphan house in Paris. Hugo has only one bright spot in his life. He has an automaton that he and his dad were rebuilding. Hugo continues to try to finish the rebuilding on his own in memory of the father his lost.
One day, Hugo is caught stealing from old gentleman who sells toys in the train station. The old man steals a notebook from the boy that had drawings in it that his father made. In an effort to get the notebook back, Hugo meets and starts conspiring with the old man’s goddaughter, Isabelle. Can they figure out why her godfather thinks the notebook is so interesting? Can they get it back for Hugo? And can Hugo escape the Station Inspector or will he get sent to the orphanage? You will have to watch this fascinating movie to find out.
There are also some other side plots in the movie. It wanders into a version of the early history of cinema, which was very interesting. The movie also has some romantic side plots as well. This movie has a lot of depth story wise. There are many layers to this world and story and they all merge together nicely at the end. I also like the prevailing theme of the movie that everyone has a place in the world, like cogs in a machine.
Visually this was an interesting looking movie. It has lots of wonderful effects that give it an almost animated feel. It also has that wonderful 1930’s look as well. It was like watching a moving piece of art.
The acting was very good. Asa Butterfield plays Hugo. He does a great job with the role. This role was a bit difficult because this not a dialogue heavy role. He has to do most of the acting through action and expression. Asa does a good job selling the role of this thoughtful, orphan boy. Chloë Grace Moretz plays Hugo’s partner in crime, Isabelle. She is the goddaughter of the Georges Méliès (the man who owns the toy shop). She is a more play by the rules to Hugo’s do whatever is necessary mentality. Chloe does an excellent job in the role. Ben Kingsley does a wonderful job as Georges Méliès. He is the elderly, cranky toyshop owner. But there is something about Georges and the notebook he steals from the little boy. What is his secret? You will have to watch the film to find out. Kingsley does a great job with this unhappy man with a past. He does a lot of his acting with expression and body language. Sacha Baron Cohen also does a good job as the Station Inspector. The Station Inspector is a bit of a comic relief character, and Cohen has a fun time with it. I also loved Jude Law in his small role as Hugo’s father. Everyone in the film did a great job in his or her role.
Overall, I enjoyed this movie. My only complaint is that the movie is a bit long and drags in a few places. It maybe had too many story lines going on. Maybe could have used a bit more editing. This movie is a one-time watch for me but I did enjoy it. If you like artistic films that have a good plot and storyline then you should enjoy Hugo.
