Martin Scorsese Unveils Hugo at Surprise NYFF Screening

UPDATED: Many tweets have been coming in about Hugo. They range in tone and enthusiasm but the bottom line is that it starts off slow but then revs up and becomes a brilliant tribute to film itself. No offense to those lucky enough to see it but when it comes to a Martin Scorsese movie I will take no one’s opinion except my own, thank you very much. The last thing I would ever do is say “oh, Scorsese’s movie? I heard it was [fill in the blank].” He is quite possibly the greatest living American director. He’s up there with Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock as one of the greatest directors who ever lived period, American or not. That he made a film at all is a cultural event. That people were lucky enough to see it, they should feel honored for it, and will remember that they were there because someday that will matter. What they think about how successful it will be — nobody knows anything.

So your next question will likely be, is it in or out for the Oscar race. And my answer to that is, who cares. Sorry the AMPAS, you don’t deserve Scorsese. You never did.

PREVIOUSLY:
Anne Thompson just tweeted from the NYFF (by the way, I am SO going next year):

Martin scorsese gets big round. Partial standing O. Work in progress: all temp, actual howard shore score, working on vfx, green screens,pre-vizes.

Good move to show Hugo as the surprise screening – it does indeed set the bar high, just as it brings a jolt excitement to the Scorsese film that many had written off as “children’s movie.” But, of course, underestimate Martin Scorsese at your own peril.

Reactions should be coming in ninety minutes from now.