Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley and Richard Griffiths
‘A Magical Masterpiece’
Not many actors in Britain built a legacy that’s as strong as Richard Griffiths. Since his rise to stardom during the 1990’s, Griffiths appeared to be an actor which had a bright future in the industry. Whether it’s magical uncles, sporting runners or political leaders, Griffiths portrayed countless compelling characters. Arguably, his best strength as an actor was his commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that had a rare ability to leave a lasting impression in a supporting role with limited screen-time. Even when he was in a film for short period of time, Griffiths always left a lasting impression on the viewer. However, recently Griffth’s career came to a tragic closure when he passed away from a heart illness causing disaster. Griffth’s death was a devastating loss for the industry leaving the entertainment world grieving. A British icon in a league of his own, Griffiths became a bold actor audiences cherish. Throughout his bold career, Griffths produced many films that are worth talking about.
I’m a fan of Griffiths and adore all the movies he has made in his career. However, “Hugo” is definitely my favourite. Ever since its release in 2011, Martin Scorsese’s movie has stood test of time as a classic. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best fantasy movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance from Richard Griffiths, who portrays a French passenger stranded at a train station. Ultimately, what makes “Hugo” a captivating classic is its universal appeal. Unlike most fantasy films, it discusses themes which everyone would definitely relate to. It delivers a heartfelt message about childhood which will resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about the powers of filmmaking, there are many strong reasons why “Hugo” is worth watching.
Set in 1930s Paris, “Hugo” tells the story about an orphan that faces sorrow. Asa Butterfield portrays Hugo Cabret, an orphan that lives in a train station causing a price to pay. Following the devastating death of his father (Jude Law), Hugo is left without a parental figure that can support his future. Hugo keeps himself busy in the train station by performing chores taking care of clocks. Hugo witnesses passengers in the train station (Richard Griffiths) go about their daily lives. However, Hugo’s life changes when he discovers a broken automaton which causes disaster. Assisted by his close friend Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz), Hugo embarks on an adventure to discover the truth about his father. Facing a dilemma, Hugo discovers that he has always had a lifelong love for the art of Cinema.
Martin Scorsese is fascinated with the lives of traumatized children. A legendary filmmaker, Scorsese has often made great movies about youth facing disaster. With “Hugo”, however, Scorsese created his first orphan drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a legendary book about orphans which endure tragedy but he succeeded immensely. Using stunning cinematography, Scorsese captures the life of an orphan trapped in a train station facing tragedy. Inspired with Sidney Lumet’s “Murder on the Orient Express”, Scorsese uses montages capturing the lives of passengers in a train station. For instance, montages elevate the train station scene. During this memorable scene, Hugo observed passengers in the train station going about lives. Through montages, Scorsese captures hardships that orphans in a doomed city go through. Montages are tricky techniques to use in films. As Chris Columbus’ “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” did suggest clearly, montages elevate adaptations of magical books. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Scorsese captures the tensions that orphans in a station are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Hugo” deserving appreciation is the production. Scorsese deftly uses production design to capture the lives of orphans facing a decline. Throughout the film, the production of the train station plays a role in showcasing Hugo Cabret’s personality. For instance, the production design of the station enhances the inspector apprehension scene. During this memorable scene, Hugo is caught roaming around a station by an inspector that causes tension. One appreciates production of the train station capturing orphans that face tension. Train stations are complex settings to use in movies. Nevertheless, they work well in this movie. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Howard Shore’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden orphans bear. Through captivating production, Scorsese captures tension faced by orphans in a station.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Hugo” is a film about orphans that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses flashbacks to capture tensions orphans stuck in a station are facing. Inspired by Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins”, Scorsese uses bold flashbacks capturing the life of an orphan that is haunted by the death of parents that cause tragedy. For instance, flashbacks enhance the father memory scene. During this memorable scene, Hugo recounts memories of spending time with his father fixing a broken automaton causing disaster. Through strong flashbacks, Scorsese creates a compelling character that audiences can easily relate to. Flashbacks are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi” claimed, flashbacks elevate historical epics about political leaders. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through an exceptional screenplay, Scorsese captures the lives of orphans in train stations facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Richard Griffiths delivers one of his finest performances as Monsieur Frick. Griffiths earned appreciation playing strict uncles in Harry Potter movies. With “Hugo”, however, the actor took on his most comical role. It is challenging to portray a French passengers stuck in a train station facing tragedy but he succeeded immensely. This is the star unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, bold and charismatic in his most memorable role. With riveting expressions, he captures angst, desperation and grief of a French passenger seeking to escape a train station that causes tragedy. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated British icons working today.
Asa Butterfield is brilliant as an orphan that seeks to escape a train station which causes trauma. Butterfield has always excelled at portraying emotional children under tense pressure, and “Hugo” showcased his finest strength as an actor. Whether he’s seeking to resolve mystery of an automaton or having a lifelong love for filmmaking, Butterfield uses his strong body language to create an orphan that is compelling. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most commemorated child actors working today.
The supporting cast is sensational and also worthy of appreciation. Sacha Baron Cohen is spectacular, bringing hilarious comical relief to a police inspector under tension to manage a bustling train station. Ben Kingsley is brilliant, capturing the authority of a filmmaker which yearns to achieve past glory. Lastly, Jude Law merits appreciation. As a concerned father, he brings heartfelt emotion to the movie.
Finally, “Hugo” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing artists with dreams to follow. Unlike most movies about filmmakers, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes such as grief, passion and trauma which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of the book to appreciate it. It delivers a profound message about the importance of following one’s dreams that would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Hugo” is one of those rare commemorated movies about filmmaking that everyone would definitely adore.
Fans of Richard Griffiths will definitely adore “Hugo” and so will movie-goers which seek engaging entertainment. A captivating classic about filmmakers, it honours an actor that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about an orphan seeking to discover the legacy of a filmmaker that’s inspiring, it’s a riveting reminder of a commemorated British actor that built a lasting legacy for his abilities to portray compelling characters in movies that are worth celebrating years after his passing left the world mourning.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 