Hugo (2011)

Nominee

Scorsese!! You made a kids film!!! And a good one at that.

At first I did not really appreciate what this film was...I kept hearing different things..."It's about a kid who lives in a clock!"...."It's about the filmmaker Georges Melies!"..."It's a Scorsese kid's film!" (Sorry, I, like everyone else, still can't get over that). Well it was no suprise to me that it was about all of those things, but what did suprise was how cohessive the story actually was, and how well Scorsese brought it to the screen.

In almost every aspect of this film it achieved an artistic perfection that truly aided the story. There are a number of motifs that I could use but I would like to touch on three in order to accentuate what made this movie a good watch.

1.) Clocks (time): Time is what carries us forward, what either makes us progress or leaves us behind.  Time is what both Hugo and Melies are victims of, the unfortunate progression of time moving forward leaving them to fend for themselves. However time is also what is needed to bring them together and motivate them to keep creating.  Visually, clocks are all over the film, from Hugo running the clock, to references to clocks in old Buster Keaton clips. We also have the inspector constantly checking his watch. There is no missing this image in the movie.

2.) Innovation/Curiosity: The constant need to discover. What more does a kid need to relate to our hero. It brings us back making us remember our years of persistent curiosity.  The ideas of fixing, creating, and purpose drive our characters forward in a constant search of belonging. From shots of children peering through keyholes, to watching intently as we watch the automaton work for the first time. The editing and shot choices directly instill a child like curiosity into the viewer. Not to mention the saturation of the eye colors of most of the characters, it is through the eyes that we learn, we perceive. The eyes are out gateways to new ideas, new adventures. 

3.)Movie-making/Dreaming: This is Scorsese's love poem to making films. At times the dialogue is not very coded but I forgive it do to it being a kid's film. Melies stands in his studio during a flashback and says, "If you've ever wondered where your dreams come from, you look around... this is where they're made." Through out the movie films are another way to make people imagine, to make them dream. It really is quite beautiful how it is discussed. 

There are so many more recurring ideas but just to give you an idea about how dynamic this film actually  is I named a few.  Also I would be remiss for wrapping this up with out mentioning the actors, everyone provides a certain heightened character of life that makes for a good childhood dream. 

Overall: I loved it! It brought me back to being a kid discovering, fixing, looking for purpose, this film has so much to offer in keeping dreaming  alive. And in case you were wondering I did not watch it in 3D, so although there are a few times you notice it missing overall it still translates. So, Sit back, watch this movie and no matter what age you are Happy Dreaming! 

True Grit (2010)

Nominee

I want to live in the Wild West!... I want to be a old drunken bamf with one eye riding around on a horse and a reputation!... I want to be a young girl trying to obtain retribution while also providing maturity and know how beyond her years!... I want Matt Damon!... If you share with me any of these wants and also just appreciate a good affinity for straight up story telling, you will like this film.

The Coen Brothers took the west provided their signature writing and pacing to it, and brought to life intriguing archetypal characters with "true grit". These characters demand our respect, because we all know that we wish we were that rugged, and getting to watch them; is simply enjoyable.

The actors portraying these them all bring their best to the table. Jeff Bridges brings both the aged Marshall and the father figure to the role of Rooster Cogburn.  Matt Damon does a respectable job of playing a Texas Ranger who attempts to lead a life of structure in the setting of lawlessness.  However, most notable, is Hailee Steinfeld, only 14 at the time, she shows levels of worldly understanding that you just don't expect. They certainly make a compelling cast.

Then there is the script. I love the Coen brothers, much for the same reason I like Quentin Tarantino, they do of course give us very different views of the work, but I feel they are both obsessed with attempting to show us the ordinary in the extraordinary. By doing that they allow their audience to believe the story being told. It makes the settings and the story relatable while also making it something exciting; something new that a viewer would want to witness.

Also the cinematography and the art direction make very clear choices in setting the scene. It is in color saturation and the focus of the camera where we gain our appreciation for the world that these story takes place. A commendable job to the both of them.

I feel like I can't end this post without mentioning....I have not seen the John Wayne version... much to my embarrassment. However, to the purist I say, perhaps without right, that I think this provides a different angle on the story. It gives it a modern pacing, not to replace the first movie but simple to provide a different just as viable answer.

Overall: I really enjoyed this film. It made me appreciate the American western all over again.  Which is always a good thing. Pop some popcorn and  Happy Watching!