Hugo

Hugo can be added to the roll of shame for 3D films that claim that their “look” is better and more immersive than what has gone before. Sorry chaps, no dice. It is what it is. A half decent film which isn’t improved by 3D. However, what with it being Martin Scorsese’s first film since Shutter Island it’s worth further inspection. The film has been marketed as one that captures the magic of film making, both in its look and its subject matter. I’d say it fulfils the latter, but falls short on the former. Either way, it’s been a box office bomb. The storyline has the eponymous Hugo, an orphan who hides in Montparnasse station in Paris, who spends time keeping the station’s clocks ticking, stealing food and drink and avoiding the stations resident policeman (Sacha Baron Cohen). Soon enough he becomes embroiled in a confrontation with a store owner (Ben Kingsley) and the plot kicks off from there. The film is a mixture of the two storylines, but they don’t even each other out as the Georges Méliès concerned side of the film (aided by a great turn from Kingsley) far outweighs the somewhat plain Hugo side of things. In addition, the tone moves around too much as well with the darker aspects of Hugo’s situation sitting awkwardly alongside the (mainly unfunny) slapstick antics of Baron Cohen. That’s nothing against Baron Cohen, he’s just saddled with a thankless character. In fact, his protagonist gives a good example of the films misplaced humour; One minute we’re laughing at his dodgy leg brace, the next we’re meant to be sympathetic that he got injured in the war. I did enjoy this film though, but the problem it has is its target audience. Who is it for? Being a film buff I appreciated the Méliès homage, but how many kids aren’t going to be fidgeting in their seats during those scenes? On the flip side the magical world of the train station should mesmerise little ones, but adults need a bit more besides visuals. Speaking of that, Scorsese tried for a distinct look with this film, almost as if the whole thing is just a dream. He pretty much achieves it as well, as the picture has an almost unearthly golden aesthetic applied throughout. So much so that when I started this review I momentarily thought that the film I watched a few months ago (yep it takes me that long to get through my backlog of reviews) was actually an animated feature. Live action it is though, but with a large dose of special effects on the side. Overall, as this is set in a station I’ll finish with a train analogy. It’s a pleasant enough journey, but one too many times it falls between the crack between the carriage and the platform.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
All over the place in parts and the middle section is dull, but worth a view for Kingsley and it’s heart is in the right place. Rating: 6/10.