Movie Review: “Hugo” (2011)

Rated (PG), this movie is a live action film which offers a perfect thematic juxtaposition to today’s increasingly automated and interconnected world. Where today’s conversations about artificial intelligence (A.I.) (with its relevant contributions, new complexities, and dangers to mankind) have particular significance, the themes of this story give fertile ground to philosophy surrounding mechanization, technology, and history known to man.

If you admire the intricacy, mechanization, precision, and craftsmanship of clocks – you will fancy this film; likely all of the thematic elements and off-shoots it presents as well.

On the same production level and scope as similarly wondrous Christian religion inspired films of this kind (with elements that are rooted in Christian theology or invite response to), presentations of such wonder are not in short supply with this film either. And, those wonders are not attributed to evil extra-human forces in this film.

The connections drawn between reality and imagination are richly reflected within its own art-form medium (film), and, this story was written in such a way that itself becomes a “timepiece” where context for the motives and behaviors of the characters act within its confines and limits.

This story features “classic” A.I., centered on gears and parts which a (coveted-by-some) automaton is made of. For those of you intrigued by automatons, the real-life machines and stories about their creators can be found in your history sources. We’re not just talking about wrist watches, as fantastic as those are in their own right. Never forgetting to state that the A.I. in this film is an extension of human capacity, a wonder of imagination, and of practical use to humans… the film presents the references to danger, if machines cause a person to become so mechanized him or herself, that a nightmare ensue. The film posits (among other things), that the most essential human ingredients for kindness, can instigate collaboration with the machines we create.

The film explores thought on man vs. machine, the motivations for the railroad and industrialization in all its shape and form (which was often far from benevolent in motivation). Also, the history of film making – giving credit to the first: Lumiere brothers. It even presents the concept of a library and its archiving of historical documentation as a “king” presiding over the accounting of truths and fictions, at man’s best attempt to do so. Celebrating human inventiveness and desires, depictions of the quest for home, and discovering where one fits in, are highly explored and stated positions in the movie. It also celebrates photography, stage, music, print, art, magic/illusion, literature, film, and clock making. Yes, believe it or not, this film does all that, with bite sized emphases and suggestions in cohesive manner.

Set in 1930’s, we witness the train station, where lives are interconnected. The story reveals exactly how and why we should care, by excellently weaving story. By the time the film is over, the little histories of each of the main characters are told. The passengers at the station coming and going, are the backdrop for the primary characters at the station where the clock tower is. The clock tower relies on the diligence of a mere boy, adept at using with what his dad taught him, and the sharpening of his skills by a shopkeeper. Among the characters, are the shop keepers, the law enforcement, orphans, and those whom war has affected there (everyone at the station).

While some back-story is loosely or only briefly explained, it makes no difference in any negative way as a consequence; this is because the more significant back-stories are all explained – making this one very interesting weave by the time the story concludes.

Separate from the theme that society functions as a system of “moving parts”, individuality is by no means degraded as a lesser virtue. Quite the opposite. I found a very interesting side element and hypothesis additionally: namely, that history is told with fact and fiction. Some histories are suppressed; some are more easily documented. “Hugo” and his friend “Isabel” are the two children who help each other to uncover those histories handed down from their immediate elders, for themselves. Only after their legacy is established on the outset, do we want to see what they uncover. Their new histories become increasingly uncertain and depressing, if they cannot unmask the pasts together. Through their good will, they manage to accomplish some pretty amazing surprises and moments for us as we watch the film.

As is true of the automaton in need of parts, in order to work and thereby achieve functionality and meaning – the story reveals answers to certain mysteries that we are invested in knowing about, and “the law” in parallel, becomes less interested in treating “Hugo” as a “reprobate”. Everyone begins to gain.

The viewer hopefully comes to learn just exactly why the shop keeper is such a grump, why the bookstore and library are so helpful, why history matters, why “Hugo” must steal in the beginning, why “the law” at first can hardly distinguish him from the rest of the orphans, and it even accomplishes explaining why treasures of all kind, can and often do take years to find or to rediscover in full color.

The film maintains and never lets go of the theorems (basically), and the notion that men create machines and other marvels. Which, is true. Catholics and those apostolic, can take it steps further in thought, to expound and conclude that “all things visible and invisible”: alien, machine, flesh, time and space, spirit, are some of the things made, that this movie explores in its relationship to mankind. And, we can agree that all creation flows from the supreme creator. Man has replicated this act all throughout history, for both good and bad intention, or unpredictable result.

Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by John Logan [with a brief appearance by the director himself (as an actor) – in the late Hitchcock style], the film is a history lesson with theses on the purposes of literature, of film making, the purpose for every integral piece of any machine, of other arts, and the reality and illusory aspects of time itself. The film also celebrates collaboration among people, not being too hard on oneself for ones apparent failures, and the important virtues of patience and well purposed persistence.

This is another well made movie, that the whole family can enjoy together.