If you didn’t know Hugo was directed by Martin Scorsese, the master helmer of at least two of the 50 greatest motion pictures of all time (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) you just wouldn’t have been able to guess it would you?
His first kids film and his first experiment with 3D cinema, the movie is an adaptation of Brian Selznick’s illustrated kids adventure novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret and for the first time since Bringing Out The Dead – a Martin Scorsese trailer has done nothing for me. Except I guess it has done something, it has taken away the wonder and the magic I was expecting from the film. I liked the story on paper, I loved the cast, I am intrigued by the use of Sir Ben Kingsley as George Melies, I was super intrigued by the title (I love long assed, mysterious titles like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) but now all I’m left with is Hugo.
And Hugo looks only a half of what he could have been.
I’m just not feeling the buzz, the magic, there’s just something missing here. Especially in the music department. Maybe it’s just a very poorly made trailer of what will be an excellent movie?
The film tells the tale of Hugo (Asa Butterfield) an orphan who lives in the walls of 1930’s Paris train station. Along with an eccentric girl named Isabelle (Hit-Girl Chloe Moretz) and her godfather (Ben Kingsley), Hugo embarks on a mysterious adventure which may unlock many deep, dark secrets whilst also delving into the origins of cinema itself.
Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen, Christopher Lee, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer and Michael Stuhlbarg support.
I dearly love the work of Martin Scorsese but this film doesn’t feel like it carries his usual energy… he is one of my favourite filmmakers of all time but the whole project feels like one a sell-out would make. Of course Scorsese isn’t that, but christ… the Sacha Baron Cohen running into a cake joke? Isn’t that kids movie channel stuff of the week?
Either the context of the trailer is harming the movie or there’s something terribly wrong in the water here. Let’s hope for a better trailer from Sony before it’s Thanksgiving release.
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4 Comments
Wow I could not disagree more. Im fascinated and excited by the trailer. Cannot wait.
I thought the trailer looked pretty good, it’s supposed to be a kids film, and if a director wants to do something completely different, then that is his right. Lord knows he’s earned it, and he probably doesn’t need the money either, and what’s wrong with a good ol’ bit of slapstick too?
I agree with you completely on this one. The music issue reminded me of the god awful music used by Scorsese to score the first big battle sequence in ‘Gangs of New York’; completely incongruous. Plus, I don’t like how Scorsese here seems to be recycling gags from the Home Alone films, and how every shot seems to come from other films; I saw The Golden Compass in there just for starters! And I like Sacha Baron Cohen, and maybe it’s the editing, but that slapstick looked dreadful! And what trailer with a dog in it hasn’t featured the bit where the music cuts and we get the ‘dog reacting to goofiness’ shot?
And am I the only one who thinks that the 3D will be completely redundant for this film having seen the trailer?
I agreed 100% when I saw the trailer. Now, all these months later, having actually seen the film, I’m glad I was 100% wrong. One of his finer works if I do say so myself. Absolutely captivating.