Between Goodfellas, Casino, The Aviator, and The Departed, director Martin Scorsese is responsible for a number of my favorite films and has more than earned the distinction of being my favorite filmmaker. Needless to say, anytime his name is attached to a project, my interest is piqued and my purchase of a movie ticket is virtually guaranteed. However, when it comes to Hugo, I was understandably confused, as Scorsese has long adhered to a distinct storytelling style and notably dark thematic elements, neither of which seemed appropriate for a children’s film. If there was one director who I would have banked on never succumbing to Hollywood’s tired and now-overused 3D-format, it would have been Scorsese, so even with the critical acclaim surrounding Hugo, I couldn’t help but feel that he was stepping a little too far out of his comfort zone. So, with a mixture of sheer loyalty and utter curiosity, I knew that I would have to see how Martin Scorsese could cater to a younger audience.
Visually stunning, elegantly directed, and surprisingly deep, Hugo is an undeniably strong film, but it almost seems like a children’s film made explicitly for adults. The story and themes presented cleverly appeal to the innocence and curiosity that define childhood, but rather than use this positioning to hold the attention of younger audience members, Hugo instead spends more time appealing to the inner-child of the moviegoers who are accompanying children to the theater. Strong acting is a welcome compliment to the film, with Ben Kingsley delivering a wonderfully complex character and Asa Butterfiled echoing a young Elijah Wood, but the real standout is Chloë Grace Moretz, who is so endearingly sweet that you cannot help but wish that everyone would have a childhood friend like her. Against all odds, the use of 3D technology actually works with Hugo, contributing to the sweeping shots and exterior setting so strongly that a pure sense of wonder is developed and maintained throughout the entire two hour running time. Simple, intelligent, and very well-made, Hugo more than solidifies Scorsese talents in tackling innocent subject matter, but the reality is that the film may not appeal to all audiences, especially the audience for which it was originally intended.
Overall Recommendation: High
