HUGO
RYAN: I’d been simply dying to see this Hugo movie ever since seeing the trailer months ago. It looked like the most magical family film in ages and directed by Hollywood heavyweight Marty Scorsese.
CAROLINE: So what’s your verdict on it?
RYAN: It’s breathtakingly gorgeous and a wonderful story but not all that I expected.
CAROLINE: How so?
RYAN: Well it’s not conventionally magical. Or maybe it is. I mean, there’s not, like, Harry Potter magic happening, but more like everyday magic; like finding your sense of purpose, etc…
CAROLINE: Oh.
RYAN: And it’s not necessarily the story of the boy Hugo as it is about the time in history when silent film first began.
CAROLINE: Well that is misleading, from the trailer anyway.
RYAN: Yes but seriously, Scorsese is such a masterful director and at the top of his game again on this picture, that I was glad to go with it. The movie is so great to look at. It reminded me of one of his other more picturesque films – The Age of Innocence.
CAROLINE: Oh that movie is degorge.
RYAN: Truly. This one’s a bit more smokey and dusty but just as stunning.
CAROLINE: How was the cast?
RYAN: Brilliant. Several Harry Potterers are there: Uncle Dursley, Narcissa Malfoy, and Madame Maxime. Ben Kingsley is as terrif as ever. Chloe Grace Moretz is refreshing; it’s so nice to see her play sweet and innocent for a change.
CAROLINE: That is a break for her. What about my tall bf Sacha Baron Cohen?
RYAN: He’s good. I did indeed LOL appropriately at him a few times. There’s also Jude Law and Emily Mortimer in bit parts. And Hugo himself is played by Asa Butterfield.
CAROLINE: He sounds like the title of a Charles Dickens novel.
RYAN: [laughs’ Totally. His eyes are incredibly emotional. Much of this film, coincidentally is quiet. A lot of the storytelling is just visual and music, almost paralleling the silent film narrative. It did make a couple moments drag but I was never bored.
CAROLINE: Between this movie and The Artist, what is it with the theme of silent film this awards season?
RYAN: It’s just in vogue now.
CAROLINE: Did you see the 3D variety?
RYAN: I did choose this in 3D and it was the typical “don’t notice it that much” 3D but I really enjoyed the moments where it was noticeable, so to that extent, choose your own adventure.
CAROLINE: I’d go 2D for sure.
RYAN: I really love the spirit of this movie. It’s beautiful to the core and a pal of mine who also saw it recently likened it to Amelie.
CAROLINE: That was a good film.
RYAN: As for Hugo, whether you choose 3D or not, it’s absolutely worth seeing on the big screen. It’s more mature than the children’s film it appears to be from the trailer. It’s not a fantasy or a fairy tale. But it’s not for an exclusively adult audience either. It’s ultimately an exquisitely draped period piece with a ton of heart.
— RATING —
