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 54 wins & 175 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:

automaton | steampunk | railway station | mechanical | train | 

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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 | War

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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:

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

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A Nintendo DS game "Hugo Cabret" was planned but never made. It would have been the first ever video-game tie-in for a Martin Scorsese film.

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Goofs

When Hugo is sitting in the armchair just before the automaton continues writing, Isabelle puts her right hand on the arm of the chair (00:52:53). A few seconds later (00:53:10) she has moved her hand farther up the chair arm and is leaning in a bit. The wide shot immediately following (00:53:13) shows Isabelle's right hand hanging at her side.

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Quotes

Hugo Cabret: Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do... Maybe it's the same with people. If you lose your purpose... it's like you're broken.

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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 Late Night with Seth Meyers: Ben Kingsley/Mike Birbiglia/Senator Lindsey Graham (2015)

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Soundtracks

Trois Morceaux en Forme de Poire: Manière de Commencement (Allez Modérément)
Written by Erik Satie
Performed by Aldo Ciccolini & Gabriel Tacchino
Courtesy of EMI Music France
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Beautiful!!

I just returned home after seeing Hugo on opening day and if I can describe this film in one word, it would be beautiful. This film has inspired me in ways that I can't even begin to explain. It's been a while since I've seen a film that spoke to me as personally as this film did. I'm a fan of Martin Scorsese and he's crafted a beautiful ode to not only cinema but also imagination and in a way, it celebrates all the things that help us escape. The world is a scary place and everyone goes through pain and suffering but if you just try and learn to dream, find your voice and not be afraid then you would be surprised what could happen.

I love how this film tells the amazing story of pioneer filmmaker Georges Melies who many of today's directors such as Steven Spielberg and James Cameron owe everything to. I love his films and I own a box set of his work, it's wonderful to see more people be introduced to him and the magic he created that continues to capture the imagination of many.

So if you love the cinema and magic then I highly recommend this masterpiece. Hugo is really something special I think.