Khayzle Ensley G.

Ogayon STEM 1202 21st Century Literature

Hugo: A Critique Paper

Martin Charles Scorsese's directorial and producing launch, Hugo, was released on
November 23, 2011. The film is based on the graphic novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by
Brian Selznick. Many of its themes are intertwined with the history of cinema and the
technology used to capture images on film strips and display them on screens. With a
formalistic approach, this paper may go into the film's visual appeal, attention to detail,
influence on viewers, and usage of cinematic components to convey the story's themes and
interests, bringing spectators' knowledge of the picture to a deeper level.

Hugo Cabret is a 12-year-old boy living in Paris in 1931 with his widowed father, a
compassionate and committed master clockmaker. Hugo's father takes him to the theaters,
where he enjoys the films of Georges Méliès. Hugo's father is burned alive in a museum fire,
and Hugo is taken away by his uncle Claude, an alcoholic watchmaker in charge of the
clocks in the Gare Montparnasse, a Paris railway station. Before going, his uncle instructs him
on how to care for them. Hugo is an inventive history lesson written in the manner of a mystery
novel that is passionate, amusing, and energizing. The film provides an outstanding argument
of cinema as a dream world, a complementary, countering, and transformative force to the
awful reality we see. Hugo has a double dream at one point, waking up from one into the
other, both of which are movie-related nightmares.

Hugo, the primary character, is a determined young man who strives to achieve his best
even in difficult circumstances. I relate to him since I often struggle to achieve certain things
due to personal concerns, but I get them through determination. I get an emotional reaction
resulting from the character's struggle and difficulties. The film's solution to the problem is
fulfilling, and I can connect to it when I face academic challenges and, with patience, attain
satisfactory outcomes. Our difficulties might be bothersome, but we must learn from them and
utilize them as steppingstones to become a better version of ourselves. I admire Hugo's bravery
in fighting for his life's betterment, I admire Isabelle's motivation for Hugo when he was
discouraged, I resent Inspector Gustav's persistent attempts to kick Hugo out of the train station
and take him to the orphanage, and I pity Papa Georges after learning his backstory and the
reason for his actions. It highlights the characteristics of everyone in the story, making it more
fascinating. These personal and emotional resonance frequencies in the picture, to which
viewers may relate, make the film more real and present individuals with vivid interpretations
that vary depending on the viewer's perspective.

The imagery in the video is stunning, with outstanding light, shadow, and movement.
The bustling railway station backdrop, with its hallways, flickering gaslights, and spectacular
architecture, comes to life resulting in this. Scorsese also used metaphors and symbolism to
increase the emotional impact of the picture. The theme of time underscores the film's
investigation of nostalgia, the passing of time, and the necessity to retain memories. The
recurrence motif of clocks and mechanics acts as a metaphor for the characters'
complicated inner workings. This symbolism enhances the plot and prompts viewers to
consider the nature of time and its influence on human existence. The smooth transitions
between scenes and the precise pacing contribute to the film's rhythm and flow. Scorsese's
montage gives a feeling of harmony and synchronization, especially in the sequences where
Hugo repairs and maintains the clocks. The film's formalistic approach is aided by the precision
of the editing, which emphasizes the beauty within structure and composition. The sound
design of "Hugo" is very noteworthy, with special care paid to ambient sounds and musical
cues. Howard Shore's evocative soundtrack lends depth and intensity to each scene,
emphasizing the film's magical ambiance.

Martin Scorsese delivers a masterclass in filmmaking with "Hugo," paying tribute to the
early days of cinema while producing an engaging story that transcends place and time.
With its beautiful visual composition, symbolic components, emotions, and great attention to
detail, the film gives an in-depth and engaging experience. The combination provided the
appropriate elements for a narrative that may happen in real life but appears to be a
dream image. Scorsese's filmmaking abilities certainly carried on Brian Selznick's legacy,
ending in a cinematic classic.