The Help (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | January 3, 2012 | 2 Comments
4 1/2 Stars
In Jackson, Miss. a young female journalist, Skeeter, gets a newspaper job, where she writes about cleaning. While interviewing maids about cleaning, she discovers that she wants to write more about how black people are treated. Skeeter wants to write a book from the point of view of maids in the early 1960′s, but none of her friends believe that there should be any change in the way that black people are treated. After two maids who work for some of her friends agree to let Skeeter interview them, Skeeter begins her fight for freedom; to persuade the town that black people should be treated equally.
The components of The Help equal a witty and fascinating drama with a hint of humor. I haven’t read the book, but I still found the movie interesting, and I think the film is understandable without reading the book. The movie mentions some historical events but focuses mainly on the story of the three women and their experiences. If you haven’t learned about the Civil Rights (like me) the film will become hard to understand and it may become uninteresting if you do not learn at least a little bit about the Civil Rights before viewing the film. As I said before the film is funny and sad. The difficult task of balancing drama and comedy is pulled off by writer/director Tate Taylor. I thought the soundtrack was good because there were many songs with black people singing that you would you have heard in Jackson in the 1960′s.
Wow. There have been a lot of great ensemble performances this year, ranging from Moneyball (which I didn’t review but certainly saw and certainly liked) to War Horse, and now The Help which features my favorite ensemble performance of the year. Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer play the lead roles. As I will mention later Viola Davis is my favorite actor in this film not only because I think her character is great but also because Davis herself does a great job doing a voice over throughout the film that makes the film very comprehensible.
My favorite character is Aibileen Clark, because she was smart and I like that she stood up for herself. I thought all of the lead performances were very good, especially Viola Davis who plays Aibileen.
My favorite scene is when one of the maids gives a pie to her former employer, because it’s funny and the employer gets what she deserves.
The film is rated PG-13, and I agree. There is some swearing and the film is complex if you don’t know about the civil rights.
A definite contender for the Oscars. Viola Davis gives my favorite female performance of the year and Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer are follow ups. This is a must see, must have and must watch again and again.
The Help (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | January 2, 2012 | Add Comments
The Help (Flack’s Review)
5 Stars
The Help tells the story of Skeeter, a young white lady trying to get a job as a writer. She lives in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s and tries to get black maids to share their stories for a book called The Help. Aibileen and Minny, two maids join with Skeeter and begin their controversial journey to try to publish the book and try to change other people’s opinions about colored people. As problems mount they must go against all odds to stay safe, show their opinions, get other maids to also share their stories, and be free.
The Help is an emotional movie that is at the same time sad, enjoyable, funny, and encouraging. Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone lead a great cast. All the actors are excellent and help the movie’s story flow. Bryce Dallas Howard plays Hilly Holbrook. She makes you not like her and in this case that’s good. The ensemble cast works great together and their chemistry is some of the best I have ever seen.
The movie is 146 minutes long but is never boring. The director, Tate Taylor, also wrote the screenplay based on the book by Kathryn Stockett. The story is very interesting and teaches a good moral about not judging books by their covers. It is a little complex but now that I understand it I would like to watch it again.
There are lots of subplots in the story and the last 25 minutes of the movie could have seemed too neatly done. But the cast and crew make sure you feel every emotional moment and you get attached to all the characters. The suspense builds nicely and when one scene is done you are compelled to watch the next scene.
Although the story is a drama there are a few moments of fun comedy including an incident surrounding a pie. All the parts involving Viola Davis are great but the ones meant to be sad and emotional (I cried) stick with you. I also think that the movie’s characters are very well developed. Jessica Chastain as Celia Foote and Allison Janney as Charlotte Phelan anchor a strong supporting cast.
It is hard to choose my favorite character because the actors worked together as an ensemble. Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Bryce Dallas Howard and Emma Stone are magnificent. However for Oscar chances, Viola Davis (for Best Actress) and Octavia Spencer (for Best Supporting Actress) are particularly strong candidates.
My favorite scenes are when all the maids come to Aibileen’s house, when Aibileen talks about her son, the bittersweet ending, and two particularly funny scenes involving pranks. The first scene I listed makes you want to stand up and cheer. The next two I mentioned are very sad and made me cry. The final two I talked about are hilarious.
The movie is rated PG-13 for some thematic material by the MPAA. I rate it PG-13 for complex content, foul language, some brief romance, smoking, drinking and implied violence. However I was not allowed to see one short scene in the film about miscarriage so I cannot completely comment on the rating or the movie. Also I do not know all about the Civil Rights movement to comment on how well it presents history and if it is glorified or not.
I think this film is excellent. The actors are great. The direction is superb. The story is emotional. And the movie is a must see. I look forward to one day reading the book the movie is based on because people have said it is one of the best books ever. This is one of my Top 5 favorite movies of the year. People should see it because it will entertain them and teach them a good lesson at the same time.
The Adventures of Tintin (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | December 30, 2011 | Add Comments
3 1/2 stars
After buying a model ship labeled Unicorn at a street market, Tintin, an intrepid reporter and his faithful dog Snowy, are intrigued by a series of clues that include a man being murdered by a passing car, a mysterious drunk sea captain descending from a long line of Haddocks and their grudge against the Rackhams. Tintin and Snowy set off with Captain Haddock who they find, drunk on the boat, Karaboudjan. The Karaboudjan’s crew includes Sakharine, who is trying to solve the mystery and get Red Rackham’s treasure before Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy do. The rest of the crew includes gunslinging seamen who want money. Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy must race Sakharine and his crew so that they can get the treasure and solve the mystery first.
A French comic book in 3-D? It doesn’t sound like your average blockbuster, but then add names to it like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson and you’ve got a deal. The humor is the biggest problem that I have with the film. None of the Captain Haddock jokes are funny and most of the other jokes are ridiculous. The beginning and all the other scenes when Snowy and Tintin are alone start to drag, simply because Tintin is telling and Spielberg isn’t showing. For your information I would rather be shown than told. In the books Tintin, at many times tells us how he solved the mystery instead of Herge (the author and illustrator of the books) showing us with his drawings. I think that Herge had no choice than to tell us rather than show us because of the complexity of the mystery. In the film the mystery s toned down. In a movie adaptation, I would think the storytelling would be more visual, which it is at times, except when Snowy and Tintin are alone. I also think Snowy was a complete distraction from the plot. Instead of commenting on key moments in the films, Snowy makes strange sounds. This mainly happens when Snowy and Tintin are alone. This however stops midway through the film. The film isn’t dreadful however; the effects are marvelous and the 3-D makes the film the best film with an added third dimension. The acting is a marvelous. Jamie Bell acts as Tintin as if he’s an english gentleman, Andy Serkis turns Captain Haddock into a drunken wreck and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost give comic relief to Thompson and Thomson. The story is surprisingly good for an action film for kids. It’s just that next time I hope Snowy and Tintin aren’t alone.
My favorite character is Tintin because of his bravery, loyalty, wits, and friendship. I also think that Jamie Bell did a good job acting as Tintin.
My favorite scene is when the plane flies by Tintin, Captain Haddock and Snowy because of the use of 3-D and the way the action plays out.
The Adventures of Tintin is rated PG for adventure action violence, some drunkenness and brief smoking.
It’ll work for younger kids and hardcore Tintin fans, but it won’t work from someone who wants an all around good film. The Adventures of Tintin is out now in 2-D and 3-D in wide release.
The Adventures of Tintin (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | December 30, 2011 | Add Comments
4 stars
The Adventures of Tintin tells the story of a boy reporter named Tintin. He goes on a journey with the drunken Captain Haddock and together they must find a lost ship called the Unicorn. Out to stop them is Sakharine and a gang of criminals. They travel around the globe and go from a massive cargo ship to a burning airplane. But will they unlock the secret of the Unicorn?
Steven Spielberg directs this Indiana Jones-ish animated family film. Compared to War Horse this is nothing. Compared to Alvin and the Chipmunks this is Oscar-worthy. The movie does not have much of a story and one scene involving a pirate battle flashback goes on forever. Even though the scene is essential to the plot it could have been cut shorter. However with the brilliant motion capture animation and some of the funniest scenes of the year, this is a movie you won’t want to miss. The action scenes are dizzingly exciting and the CG is very realistic. Jamie Bell as Tintin isn’t nearly as iconic as Harrison Ford, but he does an O.K. job. Andy Serkis, the master of mo-cap (motion-capture) is memorable as Captain Haddock. Other action movie actors lending their voices to characters include Daniel Craig and Toby Jones.
The animation is some of the best I’ve ever seen and the pace is so relentless that you won’t care that you don’t ever get emotionally attached to any of the characters. The battle scenes are awesome and the mo-cap is miles better than the 2009 Disney A Christmas Carol‘s video game-ish style.
My favorite character is Tintin because he is the classic adventure hero. It’s also cool when he swings into your face in 3-D.
My favorite scene is when Tintin and Captain Haddock battle the bad guys on the boat because it’s one of the most exciting battle scenes of the year. It’s also just very fun to watch in 3-D.
The Adventures of Tintin is exciting and it has great CG mo-cap Animation. It’s a must see in 3-D and there’s a great John Williams score. Sure, it’s nowhere as good as E.T.but it’s still loads of fun. The story’s not great or emotional, but if you think about it Raiders of the Lost Ark’s story wasn’t amazing either. However this movie copies Indiana Jones a little and none of the actors are as iconic as Harrison Ford which means it’s not as great as Indy 1. But if you want an animated movie then this a good one. However early hopes of being nominated for the Best Picture Oscar will soon be diminished. I do think that Spielberg has crafted a movie good enough to definetly win the Best Animated Movie Oscar. Thrilling, hilarious, gorgeous, and with a great opening credits sequence, this a movie that’s fun for the whole family. All those people begging for a Indy sequel that’s as good as the first can watch this movie and have a great time even if this time Spielberg makes the action that’s not gory a bit more important than the story.
The Artist (Flack’s review)
Posted on | December 29, 2011 | Add Comments
4 stars
The Artist tells the story of George Valentin, a silent movie star. One day he literally bumps into a lady named Peppy Miller, and they eventually fall in love. George helps Peppy become a star. She moves from bit parts to title roles. When talkies come Valentin quits making movies because he only likes silent movies. However everyone likes Peppy’s movies, which means the two of them are now at odds with each other. Will they ever love each other again and will George accept the talkies? Find out in The Artist, a black and white new movie that’s mostly silent.
The Artist is a delightful little movie that will make you sad and possibly laugh at the same time. Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo are joyfully charming as George and Peppy, and Uggie, the dog, provides hilarious comic relief. The movie’s mix of serious and funny tones doesn’t always quite work but the love letter to cinema aspect succeeds brilliantly. The scenes in which sound effects are used become heavily distracting and they really take you out of the time era in which the movie is set in. However the last scene uses sound brilliantly helping show the transformation of George. Some parts in the middle also go on a bit too long but that powerhouse of a finale will make you not care.
The movie is filled with funny moments and there’s a surprising twist ending. The black and white cinematography is also nice. There’s also a dazzling dance sequence later on. I was a little disappointed with the movie because of all the hype. It’s enjoyable but not “best picture winning worthy”. Also if you don’t know about movie history you won’t enjoy this film as much. Luckily if you do, you’ll have a delightful time. Even if you don’t know movie history you’ll be moved by the final scene.
My favorite character is George Valentin because he goes through a transformation in the story. Jean Dujardin does a good job using facial expressions to play the character effectively.
My favorite scenes are the last two. It’ll make you happy and even want to dance in the dazzling dance finale.
This movie is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for a crude gesture and a disturbing image. I would rate it PG for tragic scenes and a disturbing image.
The Artist is a more serious version of Singing in the Rain. It might drag a little but overall it’s a delightful love letter to movies. Plus it has a musical score to rival War Horse’s John Williams soundtrack.
War Horse (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | December 26, 2011 | 1 Comment
War Horse (Flack’s Review)
5 Stars
War Horse is about Albert and his beloved horse named Joey. Joey is taken off to World War 1 but sadly,Albert is too young to join. Many lives are touched as the miraculous horse goes through various yet kind owners. Eventually Albert is allowed too enlist but amidst the horrors of war the two wonder if they’ll ever see each other again.
The latest film from Steven Spielberg came out yesterday and it will be a classic that won’t be forgotten. I had high expectations. I’d read the great book by Micheal Morpurgo and I’d seen the Tony- winning Broadway play. However nothing can prepare you for the stunning ride Spielberg takes you on. Both visually dazzling and emotionally powerful, this movie is excellent. This is the first non fantasy or action movie directed by Steven Spielberg I’ve ever seen. And boy, is it just wonderful.
Although it will definitely be remembered as a modern classic it seems as though the movie could have been made in the 50′s. One of the final shots looks just like Lawrence of Arabia and the epic battle scenes seem nicely old fashioned. Jeremy Irvine in his big screen debut is only in about less than half the film yet still delivers an Oscar worthy turn. Everyone else is great especially Tom Hiddelston. He was rather mediocre as Loki, the villain in Thor but makes you really care for him when he plays Captain Nicholls here. The score by John Williams is his best since the Jurrassic Park theme, back in 1993,19 years ago. Januz Kaminski’s cinematography especially captures the war battle scenes nicely.
Many of the scenes are very memorable including a long battle scene involving gas bombs and No Man’s Land. I would however be lying if I didn’t say that the middle was a bit too long but I do disagree with most other critics who thought that the beginning was boring. The scenes in which Albert and Joey must work together to plow the field is exciting,suspenseful, and eventually very cheerful. In fact, the only part of the film that should be cut out is when Joey is pulling the tanks, a sequence that comes two quarters of the way through. Other than that however I couldn’t have wished for a more Spielbergianly emotional movie that has both jump out of your seat and cheer parts as well as sad and gloomy yet epic war sequences.
My favorite scene is at the end of the film(SPOILER-FREE!!!) It involves a hospital and I absolutely love it because it’s one of those times when you want to just scream yay.
My favorite character is Joey because of how compassionate he is. I also think the horses playing him is pretty brave.
This movie is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of war violence and I definitely agree. It’s good for kids ten and up.
If this movie wins the Best Picture Oscar (which I hope and think it will) it will be the second time in the row that I’ve seen the winner, after The King’s Speech in 2010. This movie is a must-see. You’ll walk out of the movie theater with a smile on your face, a tear in your eye, and the feeling in your heart that Steven Spielberg has created a masterpiece.
War Horse (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | December 26, 2011 | 2 Comments
5 out of 5 stars
Albert, a farm boy lives with his no nonsense mother and drunken father. When his father buys a horse for thirty shillings the family’s farm is at stake. The family really needs a farm horse to plow their fields. Joey, the horse is not trained to plow and it will take time for him to learn. Just after Albert and Joey start bonding and Joey is trained World War I starts. Joey is sold off by Albert’s father. Joey becomes a captain’s horse. After the captain dies Joey is taken by two horse loving brothers. Joey is passed down from owner to owner mainly because his owners are killed.
The story of War Horse is excellent. I have now read or watched the plot unfold three times. I have read the 1982 novel, seen the Broadway play and as of today I saw Steven Spielberg’s film. I’m not quite sure which interpretation is my favorite because they are all so good. Each version tells the story in an entirely different way. The book as all books do lets you imagine the story. The play tells you the story in a very limited amount of space. The film tells the story with effective effects in a very unlimited amount of space. The horse is real and I think Spielberg’s decision of using a real horse is a much better choice than using a CG horse. I can imagine in this world full of computerized characters many directors would have gone with the wind. Wait no not the wind, the CG. If the horses were CG the war scenes would look fake and the idea of aliens attacking would reach your brain pretty soon. In the film the war scenes are very real. In one scene Albert is in a trench with other solders. Bombs are going off all around them. When the solders charge the result is grueling. Although the scene is not extremely bloody or gory it is very intense. The manner in which Spielberg articulates this scene is astounding. The replacement of blood is taken by intensity. Jansuz Kaminski’s cinematography is astounding.
Every actor in the film is great. Yes I mean every one of them. Yes I mean Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Tom Hiddelston, Niels Arestup, Bennedict Cumberlatch, Celine Buckens and many, many more. I have not heard a John Williams score that I have disliked yet and this definitely keeps the record going. Williams is known for using brass as the lead instrument. In War Horse he uses flutes and strings as the lead in songs such as Dartmoor 1912 and Seeding, and Horse vs. Car. He also uses the piano as a lead instrument which is rare. Alright those are the reasons I give War Horse five stars. Add them together and a masterpiece is born. And now draw swords and charge to the Oscars.
My favorite character is a tie between Albert and Joey because their friendship is unbreakable. They’re like Han Solo and Chewbacca. They go together. To say which one I like better is impossible.
My favorite scene is when Albert is in the trench with Gunther, David and the other British troops because the cinematography is brilliant and the actors act as if they really are battling in World War I. The bombs that explode all around them are very real.
War Horse is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of war violence. I agree with the rating.
The Holidays of Spielberg
Posted on | December 24, 2011 | Add Comments
Over the years he’s proved his worth and now he’s come back to prove it to us more. Steven Spielberg has currently directed over twenty feature films. He already has two more planned for the next two years (Lincoln, an Abraham Lincoln biopic staring Daniel Day Lewis as the big man himself being released 2012, and Robocalypse, a sci-fi epic based on the novel entitled the same being released 2013). If one word could describe the man it would be unpredictable; he’s directed films ranging from war epics to action manifestos. This month he gives us both.
Let’s start with the action film. Based on on Herge’s French comic book series, The Adventures of Tintin could have been titled Indiana Jones in 3-D, digitally animated and based on a book from another country. Tintin, an intrepid reporter is on the case of a mystery. Red Rackham, a long dead pirate’s ship’s model is found by Tintin in a market. But Tintin is not the only one is interested in the model. The game is afoot. Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, and Andy Serkis will be playing motion capture characters. In case you haven’t heard of motion capture here is a quick definition: it’s a way of making CG animation look more real. The actors wear suits with little balls that look like golf balls. The animators animate the characters before hand so that they are ready. Special computers read the suits and the characters on the computers move the same way the actors do. When on screen the characters move more realistically. I’ve read a few of the books including the three the film is based on which are The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackhams Treasure. Although Spielberg has never directed a fully CG film it’s no surprise that the animation looks great because Peter Jackson who directed The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong is producing and Andy Serkis, the master of Mocap acting is playing Captain Haddock. Serkis has collaborated with Jackson many times before including on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong. And then there’s the 3-D. I will definitely be seeing the film in this format. Before you continue reading watch the official Tintin trailer.
Originally I was going to break down the two trailers but that would take the fun out of having your own opinion. My breakdown of the trailer could become persuasive and after all this a news article not persuasive text. The action in the trailer is so intense that you literally forget where you are and are instantly sucked into Tinin’s world. John William’s score sounds like Raiders of the Lost Ark’s and I mean this as a good thing. The score is very orchestral and rhythmic. The last fifteen seconds of the trailer are the most jaw dropping because of the quick editing. There is not much shown here but action however I am expecting quirky characters because the book is full of them.
The war epic, War Horse is certainly epic. According to the news Spielberg has chosen to replace gritty war violence with subtle yet disturbing takes on war. I guess you could say it’s not exactly original: based on the book, which became a Broadway play, but that doesn’t mean Spielberg can’t strike gold. In fact I predict it will be nominated for the Oscar nomination of all Oscar nominations: Best Picture. The book is sad, horrifying and brilliant all at the same time. The play also fits those descriptions. However the best part about the play is the way Joey, the war horse is presented: when he is young , he is made out of fabric and other material and when he is older he is made out of the same materials and is large, actors stood inside it at all times. The plot is simple, yet complex. Albert, a farm boy, lives with his to the point mother (in the play) and drunken father. Not long after they get Joey “the horse”, he is sent off to the war, becoming a war horse. Joey goes from owner to owner. By the end he has seen everything. Before you continue reading watch the official War Horse trailer.
The opening shots of the trailer hint at very sad,somber themes. John William’s score is melancholy, yet by listening to samples of other songs from the film on iTunes there are definitely lighter tunes probably played during scenes with Albert riding Joey. The war scenes showed are very realistic yet as I said before there is no gore. Another notable key feature is the cinematography which is aided by the lighting. Take the last shot for example: Joey looks out onto the sunset. The sky is bright orange and the camera is still. The camera doesn’t do much here but the lighting is extraordinary. If you want mouth watering cinematography look at Joey jumping onto a tank and then jumping onto the muddy ground. If the cinematography wasn’t filmed in this way the shot could easily have become a waste of film.
Now that you’ve read the news go see the movies. Tintin was released on the 21st and War Horse is coming out tomorrow. You can also look forward to my reviews of at least one of these films. Happy Holidays!
Hugo (Flick’s Review)
Posted on | November 22, 2011 | 2 Comments
4 stars out of 5 stars
A boy named Hugo Cabret maintains clocks in a train station in Paris. His father is dead and he is all alone. But when he meets a young girl named Isabelle and her godparents, George Méliès and Mama Jeanne, his life is changed forever. Hugo is trying to fix an automaton that his father found in a museum where he worked. Mysteries, prisons, filmmakers, and friends await Hugo.
Hugo is an experience. The acting is superb, the cinematography splendid, the sets lavish and the music graceful. Ben Kingsley’s performance is Oscar worthy. Asa Butterfield and Chloë Grace Moretz’s performances are also great. The only actor in the film that I didn’t like was Sacha Baron Cohen as the station inspector. None of the jokes in the film worked and almost all of them revolved around him. The character of the station inspector is supposed to be a threat to Hugo therefore making him a menacing character so to have him being involved in the most jokes doesn’t help. Other then Kingsley the best part about this film is the combination of the cinematography and the 3-D which is enchanting, especially when the camera zooms through the train station or when you see Hugo in the clocks.
I have read the original book The Invention of Hugo Cabret and I think the film is not as dark as the book, which is suprising, because the film is directed by Martin Scorsesse who is known for such critically acclaimed films as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Yes, I know that Scorsesse wants kids to see this film, but would it hurt to make the film as dark as the book? Despite my opinion there is one scene where Hugo comes out of a dream only to find himself in yet another dream where he finds himself turning into a machine that is even more disturbing than the first.
This is probably one of my top five favorite films of the year. This is my first Scorsese film (I don’t think I’ll be seeing another one anytime soon). I found it interesting that Scorsese chose to show clips from old and silent films. I hope the masses of people that see this film will be intrigued to these silent films. This is not a perfect film, but it’s pretty close.
My favorite character is Hugo because I think it is interesting that at the beginning of the film he is a thief and is all alone but at the end of the film, he has made several friends and has learned many lessons.
My favorite scene is when George Méliès tells the story of his life because it demonstrates the power of Kingsley’s performance and also taught me more about Méliès’ films.
Hugo is rated PG and I agree.
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Produced by: Johnny Depp, Tim Headington and Graham King
Written by: John Logan
Cast:
Ben Kingsley: Georges Méliès
Sacha Baron Cohen: Station inspector
Asa Butterfield: Hugo Cabret
Chloë Grace Moretz: Isabelle
Ray Winstone: Uncle Claude
Emily Mortimer: Lisette
Christopher Lee: Monsieur Labisse
Helen McCrory: Mama Jeanne
Hugo (Flack’s Review)
Posted on | November 21, 2011 | 1 Comment
Hugo – 5.0 Stars
Hugo is a movie about movies. It tells the story of a boy named Hugo Cabret and his friendship with a girl named Isabelle. They discover a mystery involving clocks, forgotten pasts, and films themselves, all in the setting of a train station. Together they find out the history of Isabelle’s godfather and go on an adventure unlike any other.
This is an example of the excellent visual style and 3-D greatness.
Martin Scorsese’s latest picture is the first of his films I’ve seen. The use of 3D is excellent and brings you deeply into the world of Paris in the 1930′s. It starts out slow, yet smartly used the 3D strongly at the beginning because it wears off later on, as in all films. It’s not that it’s boring at the beginning, it’s just not exciting. However, movies don’t need to be and so that’s why Hugo is not like most kid’s movies. It almost has the charm of a silent film. Although some of the scenes with Sacha Baron Cohen (as the station inspector) are unnecessarily silly, they do add to the films tribute to movies because they remind you of Charlie Chaplin. Asa Butterfield, as Hugo, gives a star making turn and does an excellent job, because he makes you want to tell Isabelle’s godfather about the automaton and he makes you sad when his father dies (it happens at the beginning so don’t tell me I spoiled the movie). Chloë Grace Moretz, as Isabelle, is also great as portraying the character as a friendly nice person you’d like to meet. The movie is also a great tribute to movies. The montage of old film classics is terrific, and the movie teaches you a great deal about special effects from a long time ago. Although you might think that a 3D kid’s movie wouldn’t be very emotional, the last scene made me cry. Ben Kingsley also is impressive because of the way he portrays his character as a man who on the outside seems like a grouchy old man, but on the inside is really a thoughtful loving person, making him the heart of the film. Because I have read the book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick there were a few parts that I missed such as the character, Etienne. However it is impossible to recreate the beauty of the book so changes must be made. It would be foolish if the filmmakers attempted to use the same drawings and pictures (in the film it would have been animation and live action) but the film attempts and definitely succeeds at having it’s own visual style. The movie is technically dazzling. The cuts and editing are terrific and I loved how the cinematography focused on one thing and then another (in one scenes the focus moves from Hugo’s face to a key). The 3D works well to serve the story, although it could have been a disastrous distraction. The film is a must see and I’m sure it will be Oscar nominated.
My favorite scene is at the end, when it was sad and made me cry, but I don’t want to give it away.
My favorite character is Hugo, because Asa Butterfield does a very good job at playing him and is very convincing and relateable.
Three Notes:
1. This film is produced by Johnny Depp, which surprised me, even though he can do whatever he wants because he’s a mega-billion, trillion movie star.
2. The reason I’m posting it now is because we saw it at a preview screening for critics. We got reserved seats in the middle of the theater at Providence Place Mall and I was very happy.
3. The author of the book on which the film is based on has a brief cameo in the film as an eager student.
This film should be seen on the big screen because not only is it about movies, but it has an epic scale that is at the same time very human. I suggest that it should be seen in 3D, although other members of my family do not. This film is one of the best of the year.
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