Heartfelt Homage to George Méliès Stuns Audiences

Read Time:5 Minute, 20 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Hugo
–

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family
Year Released: 2011, 2023 Arrow Video 4K (Blu-ray pack also available)
Runtime: 2h 6m
Director(s): Martin Scorsese
Writer(s): John Logan, Brian Selznick
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, Ray Winstone, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Jude Law, Richard Griffiths, Helen McCrory, Frances de la Tour, Michael Stuhlbarg
Where To Watch: available July 18, 2023; pre-order here www.arrowvideo.com, www.mvdshop.com, www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Scorsese's HUGO takes a detour from his typical gritty aesthetics. This delightful tribute to the inception of cinema breaks the mold with a wholesome and widely acclaimed presentation that won five Academy Awards and still sports a hefty 93% Tomatometer score. It's a cocktail of talent with stars like Chloë Grace Moretz, Jude Law, and Sacha Baron Cohen, and industry veterans like Ben Kingsley and Christopher Lee.

Based partially on Brian Selznick's best-selling novel, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," HUGO tells a captivating story about the film industry's pioneer, Georges Méliès, masterfully portrayed by Ben Kingsley. Moreover, Scorsese has illustrated this narrative with the wide-eyed wonder of a child against the striking backdrop of 1930s Paris. The result is a canvas splendidly painted with state-of-the-art 3D effects.

For Scorsese, HUGO is a delightful plunge into the territory of children's films and 3D technology. The movie blends the sweet innocence of childhood and mature themes linked with the cinema's genesis, offering a banquet of emotions and knowledge about filmmaking. I also have to point out how beautiful this film is; being over a decade old, it still holds up and looks phenomenal. Sadly I don’t have a 3D TV, but this set covers all the bases; even the Blu-ray set comes with a 2D and 3D version and a bonus disc packed with extras.

HUGO’s story follows a young orphan named Hugo, living within the walls of a bustling train station. As he delves into his past and looks for his place in the world, the film battles a bit in pacing; while I found the character development fantastic, I know it may be a bit of a slow burn for kids. Outside of that, I think most will enjoy this film, especially if you have a passion for cinema or want to inspire someone to look deeper into the medium's history.

He's taken Selznick's novel, a budget of 170 million dollars, and molded it into a vibrant depiction of 1930s Paris and a touching tribute to the seminal filmmaker Georges Méliès. Asa Butterfield’s performance as the industrious Hugo Cabret breathes life into Scorsese's project; Butterfield has had an interesting career, but this will always be his most memorable character to me.

HUGO is a piece of art that is as complex as beautiful. It gives the audience a sneak peek into the life of Georges Méliès (with a surprising dose of facts, although Hugo never existed, much of the story is factual) and the coming-of-age of a young boy. HUGO encapsulates Scorsese's knack for diverse storytelling. Disguised as a family movie, it unravels as an imaginative autobiography, capturing the audience's attention just as it did young Hugo's.

In conclusion, HUGO signifies a pivotal moment in Scorsese's illustrious career. It stands as a visually arresting homage to Georges Méliès and the dawn of cinema. This introspective exploration into the soul of filmmaking mirrors Scorsese's unending passion for the art and his extraordinary storytelling prowess.

Bonus Materials
– 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
– 4K Ultra HD (2160p) debut of the 2D version of the film
– Includes High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the film in 2D and 3D
– Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
– Illustrated collector’s booklet with writing by film critic Farran Smith Nehme
– Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket

DISCS ONE & TWO – FEATURE & EXTRAS (BLU-RAY + 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
– 4K Ultra HD (2160p) presentation of the 2D version of the film in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
– High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the film in 2D and 3D
– DTS-HD MA 7.1 and 2.0 audio options
– Optional English subtitles for people who are hard of hearing
– Audio commentary by filmmaker and writer Jon Spira, publisher of The Lost Autobiography of Georges Méliès
– Theatrical trailer

DISC THREE – BONUS DISC (BLU-RAY)
– Inventing Hugo Cabret, a new interview with Brian Selznick, author, and illustrator of the original novel on which the film is based
– Capturing Dreams, a new interview with Director of Photography Robert Richardson
– The Music of Dreams, a new interview with composer Howard Shore
– Ian Christie on Hugo, a new interview with the acclaimed film historian and editor of Scorsese on Scorsese
– Secret Machines: Hugo and Film Preservation, a new visual essay by filmmaker and critic Scout Tafoya
– Creating New Worlds, a new featurette in which French film historian and author Julien Dupuy examines the life and the legacy of Georges Melies and his impact on cinema and special effects
– Papa Georges Made Movies, a new featurette in which film critic and historian Pamela Hutchinson explores the days of early cinema
– Melies at the time of Hugo, a new visual essay by filmmaker and writer Jon Spira
– Five archival featurettes on the making of the film – Shoot the Moon: The Making of Hugo, The Cinemagician: Georges Meliés, The Mechanical Man at the Heart of Hugo, Big Effects, Small Scale, and Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime

For more reviews, please visit – https://linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews for more info.

Follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of ARROW VIDEO, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]