HUGO, directed by Martin Scorsese, screenplay by John Logan, based on the novel “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick, 126 minutes, USA, 2011

This fanciful 3-D spectacle looked and moved like a pop-up children’s book, which is a good thing.  The story is light, sentimental, and strummed gently on my heartstrings.   There is a dash of suspense, accents of action, and a fun ensemble cast.  The scene of Hugo  (Asa Butterfield) hanging on the big hand of the clock, suspended high above Paris is riveting, visceral, and a special ode to films of the past.

Little Hugo is driven to unlock the mystery of his own life while helping others discover the purpose of theirs.  His friend and partner in crime Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a worthy compatriot and a welcome relief as a wonderfully skilled young actress. 

This is a good but not exceptional film.  Individual images that create an illusion of depth using the potential of 3-D became predictable and too clever to ignore.  Also when you see the film next time you will notice that in mediums and close ups everyone’s hands are huge.  Once you notice this, it’s hard to look away.  It’s like one of Jerry Seinfeld’s problem dates.

I feel that “Hugo” is too long at two hours and six minutes.  What does this mean when someone says “That film was okay but it was way too long.”?  Is it a subjective perception of the passage of time?  No one ever says, “Oh that film was way too short.  I didn’t like it because it was too short.” 

Film is a time-based medium.  Story events occur over time.  Theme, content, and cinematic experience are distributed throughout a set length of time.  Is there an appropriate formula?  Some films swim by quickly at two or three hours.  Some films drag by at ninety-two minutes torturing the audience.  A good film keeps the audience enthralled over whatever time period it takes to tell the story.  It’s magic.

A beautiful lesson in film history regarding the origins of film as a popular medium and Georges Milies was effectively woven into the story of “Hugo”.  It wasn't pedantic nor did it draw attention to itself. 

“Hugo” is like a love letter, hand written on notebook paper, carefully folded, and slipped into someone’s desk during recess.  If you find it in your desk read it carefully and savor the experience.