Every once in a while, you see something so striking, it instantly jumps out at you because it is so different, so intelligent, so good that it is undeniable. I don't "do" movies too often, but Hugo warrants a post. The last time I saw a movie like this was Inception. Why that movie didn't win Best Picture, I'll never know (too much of genre movie?).
If you don't know Hugo, it was originally a graphic novel. But rather than being a comic book collections, it is more an illustrated novel, alternating between prose and art sequences. I have not read it, but Maddy is a big fan (include author Brian Selznick's new book Wonderstruck). So me and her went on a "daddy date" to see it.
First of all, not worth seeing in 3d - doesn't really add anything (although James Cameron said it was the best use of 3d that he had seen). Secondly, the pace is different. I don't want to say "slow" because that doesn't give director Scorsese (yes that Scorsese) credit. I spent the first fifteen minutes wondering how Maddy would sit through two hours, then how I would stay awake. It was undeniably well made, everything from filming to sets. But once I was drawn in, I was entranced. And that is the right word, as the story is about magic: the magic of movies, the magic of youth, the magic of family (in all its forms), the magic of magic. Maddy says the movie follows the novel pretty closely, but with stuff added. But what is added is an enhancement, little details that only add to the story like details in the painting. There are no throw away characters here. I'm told the movie references over 80 classic films - I got maybe 10% of those, but I am curious to figure it out. For instance:
So few films work on so many levels, yet stand out on their own style at the same time. a masterpiece. Maddy agrees. I will have to go read the book now.
A slightly different "hugo" but a classic song:
