Hugo

*****
Dir. Martin Scorsese

Scorsese's latest film is nothing short of a masterpiece, marking itself as one of the most cinematic experiences of the 21st Century. While the legendary director is known for his classic gangster pictures like Goodfellas and Casino, this family-oriented movie is arguably his best work.

Based on Brian Selznick's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the story is about a young orphan living in a train station in 1930s Paris. Having escaped the clutches of his drunken uncle, Hugo (Asa Butterfield) finds himself entangled in a mystery involving his late father's machine. Upon getting into trouble with a cranky toy shop owner in the station named Georges (Ben Kingsley), the fates of these two become intertwined; as the machine which Hugo yearns to fix has a history which the young lad would never imagine.

The screenplay by John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator) provides the basis for Scorsese's vision. This adventurous tale explores the early days of filmmaking, as this subject is at the heart of the mystery which Hugo and Georges' goddaughter Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz) seek to unravel. The amount of depth given to both the story and characters is remarkable. Few family films have such rich dialogue that increase the picture's quality by a long shot.

Both the newly introduced child actors and the legends teamed up to make a superb cast. Butterfield and Moretz gave performances which made them more than worthy to stand next to Kingsley and Christopher Lee in this film. I've never seen a pair of twelve year olds demonstrate such a deep and provocative level of characterization. Watching Kingsley develop from a washed up old man to rediscovering his passion is a great experience, and he'll no doubt be up for an Oscar. Lee masters the role of the elderly librarian, and Helen McCrory is equally captivating as Georges' faithful wife. Then there's Sacha Baron Cohen as the stiff Station Inspector, providing the perfect amount of humor to this entrancing tale.

Scorsese's vision allows for one of the best depictions of early twentieth century European society. Audiences don't even need to see it in 3-D to appreciate the artistic quality of the picture. Between the layers of the train station and the shots of Paris, Scorsese demonstrates genuine cinematic brilliance in this film. From the moment viewers first lay eyes on this visually spectacular setting to the spellbinding conclusion, the picture immerses audiences in this fantastical world which reflects the aesthetic principles of cinema.

It's a shame there aren't more movies today like this. I really can't find a single criticism because it's such a compelling picture which will awaken the deepest layers of the viewer's imagination.