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:

Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee

Won 5 Oscars. Another 53 wins & 132 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. Hugo needs to find the key to unlock the secret he believes it contains. On his adventures, he meets George Melies, a shopkeeper, 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 | train station | clock | automaton | orphan | 

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Taglines:

Unlock the secret

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 2011 (Canada)

Also Known As:

La invención de Hugo Cabret

Filming Locations:

Théâtre de l'Athénée, 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

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are several references to James Joyce in the movie. In the beginning he is standing in the café. Also, the frozen people outside of the apartment building are a direct reference to Joyce's short story "The Dead", which has the central character imagining frozen people in the snow all over Ireland.

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Goofs

The concealed compartment in the armoire catches Hugo's eye because the right hand side of the bottom of the board covering it projects out rather than being flush with the rest of the front (0:59:19 to 0:59:20). In a close-up while Isabelle investigates it (0:59:51 to 0:59:52), it is the left hand side of the bottom of the board projecting out. She presses on it (0:59:53) and it slides into a flush fit, but, after a brief cut to Hugo, the left side is shown projecting out again.

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Quotes

Isabelle: I enjoy the poetry of Christina Georgina Rossetti. She wrote, "My heart is like a singing bird Whose nest is in a watered shoot; My heart is like an apple-tree Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit."

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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

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.135 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Coeur Volant
Word and Music by Elizabeth Cotnoir, Zaz (as Isabelle Geffroy) and Howard Shore
Performed by Zaz
Courtesy of PlayOn

User Reviews

HUGO was like watching a dream.

"If you've ever wondered where your dreams come from, just look around. This is where they're made."

Hugo Cabret's story was told so well that it felt like you were right there with him on his stunning adventure.

For those unfamiliar, this is the story about a young boy named Hugo. He lives inside the walls of a train station in Paris in the 1930's. His father dies, leaving behind a mysterious automaton that, when fixed, can write. Hugo makes it his mission to fix it, believing that it will reveal a message from his father. With the help of an eccentric girl named Isabelle, he tries to uncover a magical mystery about the old man at the toy booth (Isabelle's godfather) and enchanting early films.

I had been looking forward to this film for a very long time, and I was not disappointed at all. I was a bit unsure about the 3D at first, but it turned out to be superb. Every single object became part of the story, and the audience became immersed in this beautiful world created by Martin Scorsese and Brian Selznick. While every member of the cast was brilliant, there are two in particular I'd like to point out.

First, Asa Butterfield as Hugo. He carried the film with perfection and gave a truly incredible performance. His acting was very natural--you could hardly tell he was acting! He did an amazing job of bringing life to a complex, lost, sad character. Asa is one of the most talented young actors I've ever seen; a very likely Oscar nomination in his future.

Last (but certainly not least) is Chloe Grace Moretz. She is another young performer that never fails to amaze me. Chloe nailed the British accent and brilliantly portrayed a bright, energetic Isabelle.

This movie has it all: beautiful visuals, super-talented cast, magic, love, heart, feeling, emotion. Best Picture Nomination for sure, and quite possibly others. Overall, this movie is a must-see. It was the most enjoyable theater experience that I've ever had. The entire theater broke into applause once it ended. This film has something for all ages, and it's really something special.

Especially if you love adventure, mystery, wonder, and have a bright imagination, you will fall in love with this film just like I did.

"Come and dream with me."