Why Hugo shows what's wrong with Martin Scorsese

Why Hugo shows what’s wrong with Martin Scorsese

I love Martin Scorsese; he’s one of the biggest influences on my career path, as I imagine he is to many, many others. However, there is a stigma with Scorsese as there is with most talented directors that he can do no wrong. This, I disagree with, everybody has their flaws. Heck, look at Steven Spielberg and TinTin. Was it good? Yes, but was it perfect? Heck no. It lacked a lot of character depth and change. 

Scorsese is no different. The man is one of the pioneers of cinema, there is no questioning that, but he is by no means perfect. His latest movie Hugo is proof of this. Hugo, centres on Hugo Cabret an Orphan who runs the clocks in a train station in 1930s France. 

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Hugo for the most part. It was sentimental and was definitely a touching tribute to cinema of yesteryear. But again, it was far for perfect. Hugo ran at over two hours in length, with the slow plot making the film feel even longer. 

Contributing to the slow moving pace of the movie was the disjointedness of the plot. We get close to halfway in when the first mention of films happens and the rest of the story becomes apparent. Leaving the film feeling like two half stories than a complete one. 

A story needs a beginning, middle and an end. Without that then it’s not a story. It’s a showcase on a subject. If you don’t have a proper structure to your story then it will ultimately fail. That’s what I have learnt and I believe it to be true. Even non linear stories such as Pulp Fiction and Memento have a proper structure to them, thus making them terrific films. 

Hugo should be no exception. And this lacking of a proper structure just exposed the film as what it is: A homage, not a story. I completely understand why Scorsese did Hugo and I know his reason for doing it. He wanted to pay tribute to the cinema that made him the director that he is today. I’m fine with that and quite touched, but a good story that doesn’t make. 

This leads me to the title of this blog; I believe that Scorsese’s recent films focus too much on the spectacle and less on the Story. OK, The Departed doesn’t count, as the story for that is brilliant. However, films such as Shutter Island, The Aviator and Gangs of New York all focus on the spectacle, not the story. 

Yes, it is fantastic to see the big set pieces and interesting tone of each film. The fight sequences in Gangs of New York are fantastic, as are the flight sequences in The Aviator. But for me, what lacks in all three of these films are the stories and I think that becomes apparent. Yes, they look good, but when I watch them, I’m not wowed. Not like I am with his earlier work anyway. 

I don’t know why Scorsese has shifted from story to spectacle, but it’s the case. And for me this is becoming a problem in truly appreciating his recent work, just as I used to. Scorsese needs to get back to telling the stories, because when he does, he’s one of the best. 

Tell me what you think by commenting below. 

If you want to email: cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter: @glamgrunge

Until next time, enjoy the show.

The Chris Benoit film can be good.

The Chris Benoit film can be good. 

I understand how people feel about this subject so I apologise in advance if I offend anyone. That is not my intended intention in the slightest. With recent news of an independent movie company SRG planning a biographical thriller based on the former World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit’s murder-suicide, I thought I’d quickly pen my thoughts on the controversial news.  I have to say... I think it’s a good idea. 

First of all, I can understand why people are up in arms about the whole subject. It’s a controversial matter and I completely agree that what Chris Benoit did was beyond forgivable and should never be glorified in anyway. Any film that did that just to make money would not be worth anyone’s time or money. 

That being said, I don’t see the Chris Benoit movie being like that. First of all, it’s not a major studio that is doing this film; it’s an independent film company. Meaning, that there is a shift away from money making. If there’s a way a Chris Benoit film can be done, it is with an independent studio. 

Films aren’t just money making medium, they’re there to inform and educate and a Chris Benoit film can do that. Not just about the Chris Benoit situation, but an informative looks at professional wrestling as a whole. The film will be able to provide the masses with an inside look to what actually went on and how things can change in the pro wrestling business for the better. 

We all hear rumours and titbits about what goes on in the wrestling business, meaning that everyone forms their own opinion. But a film can educate the masses on the pitfalls and the problems in the wrestling business as a whole. It’s a fact that too many wrestlers die too early and I’m personally for any film that could change that. 

Some people say they don’t see why they would ever watch a Chris Benoit film, since the man committed serious crime. But there have been many films about subject matter a lot worse. These movies aren’t there to be nice and fluffy as all movies aren’t there to do that. Movies can go to the darkest places in the world and report their findings. Just what a Benoit film would be doing.

 I can see, people saying that movies about the holocaust were done years later, educating people in what happened. But those people have to remember that a film isn’t just for today, it’s for further generations as well. Do I think that future generations should learn about one of the most horrible events in professional wrestling? Yes I do. 

All this being said, I do have a worry. I don’t want this film to be another Wrestling hate film. But, I have a feeling it could be. Wrestling always gets stick, either for not being too real, being too violent or for the numerous cases of steroid abuse. What I don’t want to see is a film condemning Wrestling and putting a lot of blame on Sports Entertainments shoulders. Yes, I do think Wrestling played a part in the tragedy occurred, but was one of many factors and that needs to come across in the film, if it doesn’t, then I don’t want to see it. 

All in all, I can see the good in a Chris Benoit movie, but it has to be done right. 

What do you think? Let me know in the comments section. 

Follow me on Twitter @glamgrunge

Email me at: Cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Until next time, enjoy the show.

Daniel Morris

Top 5 Alternative Westerns

 Note From Dan: Here's the first column from new writer Sol Harris. Sol's going to make lists of whatever he sees fit. Here's his first one. Enjoy it. Or he'll get you.

Top 5 Alternative Westerns

I have a strange relationship with the western. I adore the world of the wild West and the imagery that comes with it, but sadly, a great deal of the films in that genre seem to bore me to tears. I can only assume that this is due to their lack of things like aliens, explosions and zombies. Here, therefore, is a list of alternative westerns for people like myself who enjoy the finer things in life (such as aliens, explosions and zombies):

5. Stingray Sam

Admittedly, calling this one a Western is something of a stretch in that it’s not set in the American South during the 19^th century – rather, it’s set in outer space! But it does feature space-cowboys wearing cowboy hats and everything! They ride around space on the hunt for a man’s missing daughter.

The film is essentially all one big promo-piece for the relatively unknown band ‘The Billy Nayer Show’. For the last few years, they seem to have turned their attentions from their music to low-budget films featuring their music, of which this is their most recent.

It’s not the most accomplished work, but it oozes charm and gets past a lot of its flaws thanks to the soundtrack and the rather unusual, but still very likable cast.

4. Alferd Packer: The Musical!

Before putting their minds to ‘South Park’, ‘Team America: World Police’ and ‘The Book of Mormon’, Trey Parker and Matt Stone made this: a comedic telling of the true story of Alferd Packer, the first man convicted of cannibalism in the United States. It started life as a student film but soon grew into a fully-fledged, independent feature - consuming so much of Trey’s life that he dropped out of college in order to complete it.

A surreal, musical featuring a tribe of Japanese Native-Americans, characters tap-dancing in 3 feet of snow and a song called “Hang the Bastard!” - just like ‘South Park’, it looks incredibly cheap and incredibly crude, but also just like ‘South Park’, it’s hilarious.

3. Rango

Before Clint Eastwood’s man with no name, there was another bad-ass cowboy by the name of Django. So iconic was he that on top of being the titular character in a film of his own, he went on to star in over 30 unofficial sequels, all trying to cash in on his popularity. Obviously, nowadays that hype has died down, but the films are still fondly remembered by many cinema-enthusiasts as is evident with films such as Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming ‘Django Unchained’ and with this loving homage in the mould of an animated family comedy. I mean, Rango, Django, what’s the difference, right?

Rango sees ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ director, Gore Verbinski, once again working with Johnny Depp to create a unique world full of action and whimsy. 

Featuring accomplished and unique animation, a wonderfully strange sense of humour and frankly, a lot of fun, ‘Rango’ is my bet for next year’s animated film category at the Academy Awards.

2. Westworld

This film is essentially the blue-print for both ‘The Terminator’ and ‘Jurassic Park’. Just like ‘Jurassic Park’, it’s about a futuristic theme park, but instead of dinosaurs, this one has robots. And again, just like ‘Jurassic Park’, eventually the theme-park attractions go rogue and attack their guests – in this case, leaving one survivor who’s tracked down by a particularly persistent, robotic Billy-the-Kid-type in a thrilling game of cat and mouse. Also like ‘Jurassic Park’, it was written by Michael Chrichton.

1. Back to the Future: Part III

Generally (unfairly) written off as the weakest film in the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy, ‘Part III’ may ever so slightly below the quality of parts I and II, but that’s only because those two films were SO good. When judged on its own terms, ‘Part III’ is a remarkable film, sitting in the top end of the family-friendly, Spielbergian classics of the ‘80s such as ‘The Goonies’ and ‘E.T.’.

So there you have it. And if you want ‘real westerns’ then I suggest ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’, ‘True Grit’, ‘Django’, ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ and ‘Unforgiven’. Two lists for the price of one!

By Sol Harris