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'Time is never time at all
You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth'

From the song 'Tonight, Tonight' by The Smashing Pumpkins

I thought it best to begin this review of the film 'Hugo' with a quote from this song by the Smashing Pumpkins. Not that this song or this quote describes the film in any way. But that the MTV for this song, shares something in common with Scorsese's 'Hugo': both paid tribute to film maker Georges Melie.

I do not know who Melie was, or what his role was in the film industry. But while watching 'Hugo,' especially when I saw the footage of the smiling sun and the rocket ship, I was immediately reminded of the Smashing Pumpkins' 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' album cover, and the 'Tonight Tonight' music video. I revisited the Smashing Pumpkins video after watching the film, and realized, that yes, it seems the Pumpkins were also giving a nod to Melie's art when they did their music video. I would say it would have been perfect to use even one song from this great album in the film, but that's asking too much.


'Hugo' is a 3D visual feast, filled with colorful scenes and beautiful images. It tells the story of an orphan, determined to fix an 'automaton,' a mechanical doll, believing that when fixed, the automaton would give him a message from his dead father. Though I think the film has its flaws, Scorsese succeeded in making it as highly entertaining as possible, and even using the medium to pay tribute to the pioneer film maker Melie, and all this in 3D.

As I said, I think 'Hugo' has flaws, but I can only point out one. There are some elements or characters that were not given much attention in the film to give them more depth. I did not read the book. Maybe these elements or characters were well-developed in the book and since it's hard to develop all the book's elements in a two-hour film, somehow I feel depth is lacking in some of its elements.

The actors who were given more attention though were excellent. Ben Kingsley is always good to watch and, as always, Sacha Baron Cohen's performance is excellent even in 3D. The theme, about every person having a purpose in life, holds the film together, even implying Melie's main purpose in life was to be a film maker.

I'll close this review the way I introduced it, with a quote from 'Tonight Tonight.' Again, it doesn't describe the film 'Hugo' in any way, it's just a great song.

'The impossible is possible tonight
Believe in me as I believe in you, tonight'