It seems all too often that movie trailers for children’s movies feature the same ending tagline: “ALSO APPEARING IN 3D!” For the most part, this simply means that a few scenes in the movie are shot in 3D, while the rest of the film is merely converted via a computer program to create the illusion of depth. After all, why should a studio fork out the extra cash necessary for an entirely 3D production, when they can just shoot 10 minutes of footage in 3D and still collect the additional $5 to $10 per ticket? The answer lies in Martin Scorsese’s new film, Hugo.
Hugo (based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick) is a story set in 1930s France about Hugo Cabret, the son of a master clockmaker (Asa Butterfield), who is orphaned and lives alone in the walls of a Parisian railway station. He meets all kinds of interesting characters, including a local toymaker (Ben Kingsley) and an intransigent train station security guard (Sacha Baron Cohen), during his quest to finish the work left uncompleted by his recently deceased father.
Scorsese’s work particularly shines because it pays homage to the history of filmmaking. Spoilers excluded, the story follows the history of the movie industry quite closely, and details the reasons why early filmmakers found it such an engaging and artistic medium. An artist’s work is at its best when the artist enjoys what they’re working on and Hugo is no exception.
Scorsese approaches the aspects of film with obvious reverence and passion. He even employs the techniques found in silent movies throughout Hugo, including extreme gestures, clever special effects, and intricate set design. A few segments of the movie feature silent films, some of which are from the original time period and some of which Scorsese created solely for this movie.
As far as the 3D aspect goes, Hugo shines in almost every area. The entire movie was shot with 3D viewing in mind. This is made especially clear in the opening scene when the camera flies through the entire railway station as people going about their daily routines rip past the audience. Without giving away any spoilers, it’s safe to say that 3D adds a much-needed element to Hugo, especially during the movie’s tenser scenes.
Scorsese’s film lacks very little. If one goes into the movie expecting a lighthearted, yet quite deep, children’s story, then Hugo certainly won’t disappoint. The character development is particularly exceptional. Even villainous characters, in addition to the story’s protagonists, have a level of depth unseen in modern kid’s movies. Scorsese manages to bring the art of filmmaking to a family friendly medium. Hugo, especially in 3D, will leave viewers (children and adults alike) with an experience that they will not soon forget. Be sure to put this movie at the top of your holiday movie “to-do” list.
