Hugo represents a true departure for Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed, etc.). This is a family movie. An honest to goodness film for folks of all ages (true, he made Kundun but that was still a film aimed primarily at adults). Not a gangster in sight. And while I've always come to expect passion from any project this icon has a hand in, even I wasn't prepared for the absolute virtuosity the Meistro lovingly puts on display throughout Hugo. From the opening shot in which Scorsese's camera glides through a snowy Paris skyline circa the 1930's, I was hooked. Hugo tells the story of the title character--a young orphan who lives in a clock tower of a Paris train station. Hugo (Asa Butterfield) has a special gift. He fixes things. That gift is tested when he comes face to face with a bitter old man (played wonderfully by Ben Kingsley) who has no interest in being fixed. This film is a lot of things. Its a drama, a fantasy, a romance, and a mystery all rolled into one and while it offers up a little something for everyone, its really a movie lover's movie. This becomes completely evident at the midway point when we realize what Ben Kingsley's character is really all about. Hugo is a magical experience anchored by outstanding performances (Butterfield, Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Chloe Moretz just to name a few) and its clear that this is Scorsese's love letter to the movies. Not only does Hugo tap into the spirit of the films that have inspired Scorsese throughout the years, but this tale also passionately expresses the importance of film preservation (a cause that is very close to Scorsese's heart). Hugo is a dense movie and you have to stick with it, but if you're willing to go along for the ride, its quite the rewarding experience. Scorsese has used nearly every contemporary technical resource to tell this engrossing story of an era long since vanished, and his use of 3D in particular is positively unforgettable. It might just be the best 3D I've ever seen! Not that the 3D is essential. Hugo is one of the best films of the year with our without it.

Grade: A-