Hugo (2011)

Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

John Logan (screenplay), Brian Selznick (book)

Stars:

Ben Kingsley, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz

Won 5 Oscars. Another 44 wins & 101 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Michael Stuhlbarg	...	Rene Tabard
Frances de la Tour	...	Madame Emilie
Richard Griffiths	...	Monsieur Frick
Jude Law	...	Hugo's Father
Kevin Eldon	...	Policeman
Gulliver McGrath	...	Young Tabard
Shaun Aylward	...	Street Kid

Storyline

Hugo is an orphan boy living in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. He learned to fix clocks and other gadgets from his father and uncle which he puts to use keeping the train station clocks running. The only thing that he has left that connects him to his dead father is an automaton (mechanical man) that doesn't work without a special key which Hugo needs to find to unlock the secret he believes it contains. On his adventures, he meets with a shopkeeper, George Melies, who works in the train station and his adventure-seeking god-daughter. Hugo finds that they have a surprising connection to his father and the automaton, and he discovers it unlocks some memories the old man has buried inside regarding his past.

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Plot Keywords:

train station | train | clock | automaton | orphan | 

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Taglines:

One of the most legendary directors of our time takes you on an extraordinary adventure.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Filming Locations:

La Sorbonne, Paris 5, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$170,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$11,364,505 (USA) (18 November 2011)

Gross:

$73,820,094 (USA) (6 April 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, GK Films, Infinitum Nihil

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After a screening that James Cameron attended, he called the film a "masterpiece" and told Martin Scorsese it was the best use of 3D he had seen, including his own films.

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Goofs

When Hugo and Isabelle are standing on a bridge, Notre Dame Cathedral is behind her to the west. The camera shifts to Hugo and he points behind himself (east) a mile away to the Montparnasse train station where he lives. The Montparnasse station is actually nearly two miles southwest of Notre Dame.

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Quotes

Isabelle: I think we should be very... clandestine!
Hugo Cabret: [not knowing what "clandestine" means] Um, okay...

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Crazy Credits

There is only one opening credit, the film's title, which does not appear until nearly 15 minutes into the film.

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Connections

Referenced in Special Collector's Edition: Las chicas de la Tierra son fáciles (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Dardanella"
Written by Felix Bernard, Johnny S. Black and Fred Fisher
Performed by Paul Eakins Mortier Belgian Band Organ
Courtesy of Carlisle Music Company

User Reviews

Scorsese's first movie for kids is a Masterpiece

I attended the DGA screening over the weekend, followed by a Q&A moderated by James Cameron. Cameron's first words (after correctly referring to Scorsese as "maestro"), were "I thought we'd just geek out over 3D for a half hour, but having seen the movie... it's a masterpiece." I brought my ten year old daughter, who sat -- if anything -- even more transfixed than I did. Every single image is arresting, the use of 3D is perfection itself, the story is engaging and thrilling and heartbreaking and uplifting and I never wanted it to end. If only it'd be three hours! All the performances are excellent, including the kids. Great British actors appear in roles with only a line or two, but it helps lift the movie into the realm of Instant Classic, and Sacha Baron Cohen brings nuance and heart to his humorous role as the Station Inspector. On the way to the car my daughter asked if we could get the blu-ray when it's available, and I had the same feeling as well.