As the closing frames of this film danced across our little home movie theater, my daughter jumped to her feet and burst into applause. This movie had excited her, entertained her, and moved her. My son was so interested in every part of the film that he asked us questions throughout the film. I had to try to both encourage and discourage him. I had to encourage him because he was asking great questions. I had to discourage him because I was missing the dialogue on the screen. What a wonderful gift Martin Scorsese has given to children and to families with this movie. He has already given us so many memorable films, but to be able to sit with my family and see his cinematic wizardry on display is something I will never forget.
The movie follows the adventures of Hugo Cabret. He is a young boy who lives in a clock above a Parisian train station. He has fallen into the duty of operating the clocks in the station, but regularly has to steal from the business owners in the train station in order to eat. He also is enamored with machines. He is an orphan, and his late father was a clock maker. His father finds an old automaton in a museum and takes it home. He and his son make it a hobby to fix it. The automaton is so complex that when it works it actually will be able to write a message. After the death of Hugo's father, Hugo becomes obsessed with fixing the automaton, thinking that the writing may be some kind of "message" from his father. While Hugo is working on this automaton in his perch above the train station, Hugo comes under fire from Georges, a shopkeeper from whom Hugo has stolen. Georges' daughter Isabelle befriends Hugo. As to where the plot goes after that, there is simply too much wonder to give it away. You must watch the movie and see for yourself.
The opening 10 minutes of the film is classic Scorsese work. The camera is active and moves with utter grace through beautiful sights and sounds. The visual impact of the first 10 minutes is enormous. It shows us so much, and yet we know the story is only beginning. As I watched, I explained some of these artistic devices to my daughter, and she was fascinated by it. This movie can be a starting point for serious film watching for two reasons. First, on its own it is wonderful film making. But second, it has so many homages to silent era movies that one could start watching the films to which this movie refers and have quite an education in film history.
Any of you who have read my entries on this blog know I love movies. As I watched "Hugo", I thought of other movies. I couldn't help but think of Hitchcock's "Rear Window" in the first moments, as Hugo watches the lives of others from his vantage point in the clock. My daughter observed that the music reminded her of the tone of the music in the Pixar film "Ratatoullie." The flower girl played by Emily Mortimer reminded me of the heroine in Chaplin's "City Lights." This movie is made not only by a movie making expert, but by a movie lover. Scorsese is both of those things, and his ability to capture his love on film is what gives this movie its soul. He believes in the power of movies to change people's lives. He is enchanted by the possibilities of the art form. How magnificent to have such a wonderful film in its own right be able to be about the love, and to give the audience a taste of that.
The movie was great for all 3 of my kids. My little guy Wes (4) strayed off to his room at one point, but watched at least 3/4 of the movie. My other two kids loved it. This is a movie with enough hints of danger and adventure to make it exciting for children, all the while being muted enough in its content to make it watchable for them. This is a movie to watch with your kids, but is such a great story that anyone would enjoy it. For those of you with children, I would recommend it. It is imaginative and touching. For everyone else, it is a wonder of cinema and simply shouldn't be missed.
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