Tag Archives: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Hugo {Film Review}

Posted on by

Martin Scorsese doesn’t shy away on his love and passion for film history and filmmaking itself. He makes subtle homages to silent era films through-out his films (especially the shot of Joe Pesci shooting a gun at the camera in the end of GoodFellas is referencing to The Great Train Robbery (1903). So viewing this film, it doesn’t come as a surprise why Scorsese wanted to make this film. It is based on a children’s book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

It tells of an orphan named Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who lives in a train station in Paris in 1930s, he encounters George Méliès (Ben Kingsley) at a toy shop. Whilst living in the train station, Hugo is busy fixing an automaton. A mechanical man that was found by his father (Jude Law), determined to get it fixed since his father died from a fire at the museum where he worked. Constantly avoiding the station’s inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen), he also meets George’s goddaughter, Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz). Hugo notices a heart shaped key on Isabelle’s necklace, being a vital piece of the puzzle on fixing the automaton.

The story is a fantastical adventure and it is as exciting and magical as Pixar would make it if this was an animated film. The production design by Dante Ferreti (previous credits; Interview With The Vampire, Gangs of New York and The Aviator) continues to make some wonderful sets, especially the clock tower that Hugo often visits from time to time. It all feels authentic but also keeping with the fantasy story. Robert Richardson’s cinematography is gorgeous, making the setting of Paris as bright and glorious (which helps with the 3D). The writing from John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) is very well written, brilliant direction from Scorsese on starting the film with little to no dialogue. There was no need of an opening narration, a case and point on the meaning ‘show don’t tell’. The leading child actor, Butterfield, does hold the film on his own and makes a convincing and likable hero (“we’ll get into trouble” says Isabelle as Hugo pick locks a door “that’s how you know it’s an adventure!”) Moretz has already established from Kick-Ass how talented of an actress she already is and does the English accent spot-on! Sacha Baron Cohen (well-known as Ali G, Borat and Bruno in The Ali G Show) plays the Inspector as a comical villain and does comedy very well as he doesn’t play the character with any French stereotypical traits. His only purpose to uphold the law and capture any orphans in the station (being just as heartless as any mechanical object) but slowly showing feelings for the Lisette (Emily Mortimer)Ben Kingsley as the famous George Méliès makes one of his best performances. You feel for his sadness, that time can be a gift but also a curse. A magician on-stage and behind the camera, where he tells a young boy that this is where dreams get made! Believing there is no such thing as a happy ending. Though Hugo, as he fixes his automaton, attempts to fix George’s life. Which the film asks a question; what is our purpose in life? What happens when we’re made redundant? That’s a question Hugo constantly wants to find out and believing the automaton is the key to the memory of his father.

The thing that amazes me from this film is Scorsese’s eye on historical accuracy, not just from the setting or costumes but of film history itself. Featuring classic silent films; L’arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat/The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station and La Sortie des usines Lumière à Lyon/Workers Leaving The Lumière Factory in Lyon by Lumière brothers (who invented the cinematograph). Seeing a reconstruction of George Méliès’ films being made honestly brought a tear to my eye, it really is a film lover’s dream. This, without a doubt, will be used as a case-study for Film Studies courses in the future.

Overall; a phenomenal piece of filmmaking! Scorsese really does delve into the fantasy of the story but also celebrating film itself. As George Méliès says at the end of the film; “let us all dream!” You have certainly delivered a wonderful dream, Mr. Scorsese!

5 out of 5!

Third Season of Made In Chelsea Confirmed.

Posted on by

C4 Entertainment Commissioning Editor David Williams has green-lit a ten-part, third series of hit reality drama Made In Chelsea from Monkey.

The announcement follows the news that E4 will also be screening a feature length 90 minute, Made in Chelsea Christmas Special, in December.

The show follows the lives of a glamorous group of globe-trotting young socialites and first aired on E4 in May, becoming the channel’s highest rated non-scripted debut.

Series 2 finishes Monday 21 November and is averaging 701k viewers to date, with the total average audience rising to over 1 million, when consolidated and VoD viewing is included. More than half of the audience is aged 16 to 34.

Made In Chelsea also remains one of Channel 4’s most talked about programmes, trending worldwide on Twitter and generating a total of 475k tweets to date.

Series 2 introduced a new online element with three 30 minute live video webchats in the form of ‘Live in Chelsea’. A first for E4.com, this online spin off consolidated 90K users who had the opportunity to watch cast members take questions from Twitter and Facebook and enjoy exclusive preview clips.

To further harness the show’s strong presence across social media, E4 is the only UK television network working with GetGlue; A new social network for entertainment that allows fans of the show to ‘check-in,’ earn virtual and physical stickers and share their activity with their friends on Facebook and Twitter.

To date, Made In Chelsea has recorded 45k ‘check-ins’ for series 2, generating a total online reach of more than 8m.

Commissioning Editor David Williams said: “With such a loyal audience tweeting, checking-in and following the lives of our new TV stars, it’s fantastic to be once again returning to the hallowed streets of the Royal Borough of Chelsea.”

Exec Producer, Sarah Dillistone from Monkey said: “We’re delighted by the connection so many people have made with the show, its cast and the incredible world they live in. We look forward to bringing new bed hopping, name dropping, champagne popping characters to series 3.”

Monkey is a division of NBCUniversal International Television Production.

Andy Serkis and Host Of Stars Celebrate Young Actors Theatre

Posted on by

Who and Where The launch of Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland audio book along with the all star cast including Simon Callow, Chloe Moretz, Andy Serkis, Sandi Toksvig, Paul Whitehouse, Celia Imrie, Dexter Fletcher, Asa Butterfield and other members of The Young Actors Theatre, Islington.

When On Wednesday June 15 / 18:00 / Young Actors Theatre

Frost had a wonderful time at YATI’s launch for the Alice in Wonderland audio book, the theatre made us feel like we had fallen down the hole after Alice, the cast did a reading and performed some songs, and all the while we sipped cocktails and munched canapes. It was a fun (alcoholic) tea party indeed.

I had a chat with the wonderful and polite Andy Serkis, who told me that the Young Actors Theatre had given him his start when he was 18. Asa Butterfield, fresh from a Martin Scorsese lead, put all his success at the door of the theatre, saying that he would never be where he is now without them.

In a bid to raise much needed funds and awareness of the continuing work that Islington’s YATI carries out with budding actors and performers from within the local community, the non subsidised community theatre and acting school has given its young professionals the chance to experience the demands and fun of recording this enduring classic, alongside some of the country’s best-loved actors and performers, all of whom have generously donated their contributions to support this fund-raising initiative, to support the launch of the developing potential fund and create a brand new audio book version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

In the current climate, it is more important than ever for small, community based organisations such as YATI to be pro-active in generating the income to continue to fund an environment where young people from all walks of life can transform their lives

‘YATI is not only an important part of the local community’ says Andy Serkis, (The Mock Turtle), ‘but is also an invaluable resource for young actors and performers from all walks of life to get an introduction into the acting profession’ before adding;

‘How better then to celebrate the ongoing achievements of the theatre than to bring members past and present together with some of the country’s best actors working today to record a new and fun version of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’

Andrew Harries, Artistic Director of YATI, says; ‘This is a pivotal time for YATI and we want to celebrate the achievements of the theatre. We have more classes and opportunities for young people in the community than ever before and our members are experiencing an impressive amount of professional success with appearances in The Kings Speech, Attack the Block and Horrid Henry – and that’s just the past 12 months.

And what better way to raise awareness of the theatre, gain the support of the wider community and invest in the futures of as many young people as possible than with the launch of this exciting and fun new version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is great to see YATI students acting alongside some of the nations best loved talent.’

The Young Actors Theatre deserves public funding for all of the hard, amazing work they have done over the years.to support them, buy the CD, volunteer or give them some much needed cash, Young Actors Theatre