Collegiate Times

Shocking violence. Gratuitous cursing. Dark themes concerning the ambiguity of human nature. All are found in many of Martin Scorsese’s films.

Two of his more violent films, “Goodfellas” (1990) and “Casino” (1995), are ranked number four and 10 in the list of movies with the most occurrences of the “F” word.  

So, when I found out his newest project “Hugo” was a children’s film, I was a quite intrigued.

“Hugo” is based off the best-selling children’s book “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” 

The film follows Hugo, an orphan who lives in a Parisian train station. Hugo is trying to fix a strange machine that his father found prior to his death. 

With the help of a toy shop owner’s daughter, the two unlock the mystery that is hidden deep within this odd little machine. 

Excuse me for the vague summary, but it’s hard to write too much without giving anything away.

What’s the verdict? While Scorsese definitely has a niche in the world of film, “Hugo” proves that Scorsese truly is one of the greatest living directors. 

“Hugo” has little in common with Scorsese’s other films, but the cinematography, great acting and overall storyline shows that “Hugo” is not just another children’s film.

“Hugo” boasts a talented cast including Jude Law, Christopher Lee, Ben Kingsley and Sasha Baron Cohen. All give great performances — Kingsley stands out. 

He plays the toy shop owner, Georges Melies. His layered performance is quite touching, as a broken man with a complicated past.

One of my biggest fears going into “Hugo” was the fact that it is a 3D film. My hatred for 3D movies is no secret. 

I often feel like I’m paying four or five extra dollars to feel sick because of the primitive efforts of filmmakers to make a film “3D.” 

Even with the 3D glasses on, the screen often looks fuzzy. This is not the case for “Hugo.”

Along with “Hugo” being Scorsese’s first family film, it is also the first that Scorsese has shot in 3D. 

The first scene of the movie promises a better 3D experience, as the camera follows closely behind Hugo as he darts about the train station. 

The graphics were not blurry and 3D gimmicks were nowhere to be found. 

Instead, what I saw was a great film that was enhanced by the layered world onscreen, not a movie made for the sake of being 3D.

Perhaps what I loved most about “Hugo” was that while the film appeals to a broad audience, it also seems to be quite close to Scorsese’s heart. 

Scorsese is an admitted movie buff, and anyone with some knowledge of film history can see the influences of other directors in his films. 

“Hugo” is fictional, but there are a few elements of film history that contribute to the plot. If Scorsese was going to adapt any children’s book, I can see why he chose “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.”

Even if you are not a fan of kid’s movies, “Hugo” is not the average PG movie. It is a detailed and touching film that I feel can be more appreciated by adults than the kids who watch it. 

Yes, I admit it: I am a huge Scorsese fan, so this review may be a bit skewed. But if a chocoholic told you that a certain candy bar was absolutely delicious, you’d try it, right? 

Horrible metaphor aside, go see “Hugo.” Scorsese won’t be around forever. Enjoy his films in theater while you still can.           

A version of this article appeared in the Dec 6 issue of the Collegiate Times.