Hugo (2011 movie)- Review

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Released: 2011
Country: United States, United Kingdom, France

Genres: Adventure, Family, Mystery, Drama

Main cast: Asa Butterfield., Chloe Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Helen McCrory, Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Stuhlbarg, Frances de la Tour, Richard Griffiths

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Martin Scorsese, the brilliant film director, directs this so very wonderful, so very enchanting film. ''Hugo'' is such a film which made me so emotional, which made me smile and shed a tear.

''Hugo'' tells the story of the adventures of a young boy and a young girl in order to find out something, and the story slowly turns from a mystery adventure film to a homage to such a person who had such great contributions to cinema, George Méliès .

The movie works excellently. While it is able to excite the audience and make them curious, it also makes them, at most parts of the second half of the film, feel emotional.

The story starts with Hugo Cabret, a young boy, who lives in the clocks of a station. Set in the 1930s. An old man, Papa Georges, has a shop at the station. Hugo goes to steal something from the shop, but is caught by Papa Georges. After scolding him bitterly, he tells him to empty his pockets. Hugo takes out a notebook, containing drawings. The reaction of Papa Georges change immediately after seeing the drawings. Though Hugo pleads to him to return the notebook, but however, Papa Georges doesn't return it to him. Over the following scenes, we see some of the events of Hugo's past. His father worked as a clock maker. One day, he brings an automaton that could supposedly write something. Hugo and his father start repairing the automaton. But soon, his father dies in a fire. Hugo's uncle Claude takes him to the clock and shows him how to maintain it. But soon he disappears. Hugo alone maintains the clocks now. He repaired the automaton, following the instruction in his late father's notebook.

Hugo goes to Papa Georges again, who tells that he will burn the notebook. However, his goddaughter Isabelle promise to help Hugo.

Isabelle is a bookworm. She describes libraries as her ''Neverland and Oz and Treasure Island''. But however, she has never seen a movie. For some reason, Papa Georges doesn't allow her to see movies. Isabelle loves adventures. She decides to help Hugo to find the secrets behind this notebook. And then what happens? What happens after the automaton starts writing? What does it write?

The film is based on the historical fiction novel ''The Inventions of Hugo Cabret'', by Brian Selznick.

The film's beauty lies in it's theme. Back in the 1900s and 1910s, when the film industry was starting to develop, many people made important, great contributions to the cinema. Georges Melies is one of them. He directed over 500 films, many of which were lost or destroyed in course of time. The film informs us this.

The film pays homage and respect to this great man, Georges Melies. What makes this film more heartwarming and emotional is this matter. Also, what contributes more in making the film heartwarming is the wonderful, beautiful background music, and of course, the performances by Helen McCrory and Ben Kingsley.

''Hugo'' is historical fiction. It uses elements from history and fictionalized elements. For example, the past life, works, and tragic end in the film career of Georges Méliès , showed in this movie are mostly true. Even the fact that he ran a toy shop is also true (Méliès , after his filmmaking career came to an end, used to earn his living as a toy and candy salesman at the Montparnasse Station, Paris). But, however, it does have lots of fictionalized elements, of course, in it. 

Ben Kingsley gives an excellent performance as Papa Georges/ Georges Méliès . His performance contributes a lot to this film. Helen McCrory, playing Mama Jeanne, is very good in her role.

But the best performances in this film is by Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz. Both are highly talented young actors. I first saw Asa Butterfield in ''The Boy in the Striped Pajamas'', and then in ''Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang''. In both films, he was wonderful. Similarly in ''Hugo'', he gives such an excellent performance.

Chloe Grace Moretz is very, very good in the role as the intelligent young girl, Isabelle, a girl who loves books and libraries.

Sacha Baron Cohen plays the station inspector. Presented as a comical antagonist, he is always looking for orphans and sending them to the orphanages (Hugo manages to escape him on several occasions). There is also the presence of well known actors like Richard Griffiths and Frances de la Tour, in minor supporting roles.  An impressive performance is by Michael Stuhlbarg, who plays a person who has seen all of Meilies's films, and who is greatly inspired by his works.

As I mentioned before the background music contributes a lot to make this film wonderful and excellent. Cinematography is praiseworthy. The visual effects are excellent. And also, the set decorations and designs are wonderful.

Therefore, ''Hugo'' is a masterpiece, among the best films made in 2011. Paying homage to Georges Melies, a pioneer in filmmaking, the film is able to make the audience cheerful, excited, emotional and curious. Strongly recommended!

4.5 out of 5!