It’s been a long journey, over 17 years, since Hugh Jackman helped redefine superheroes’s place in the movie world. Prior to the X-Men, the superhero genre was considered B-level at best (who remembers Dolph Lungren as The Punisher?). Hugh Jackman brought one of the most popular comic book characters in history (although oddly unknown to the general public prior to the movies) to the big screen and made it his own. Interestingly enough, Hugh Jackman wasn’t even director Brian Singer’s first choice for the role (or even desired for it), yet few people can imagine anyone else playing the iconic Wolverine. However, all good things must come to an end and Director James Mangold and Hugh Jackman create a fitting swan song for one of the most iconic film superheroes ever put on the big screen.
I applaud the courage of both James Mangold and Hugh Jackman (who took a pay cut in order to produce an ‘R’ rated film). Prior to the success of last year’s ‘Deadpool’, movie studios shied away from, if not outright refused, making an ‘R’ rated superhero movie for fears of alienating the family demographic. Mangold and the Studios not only took a chance with the ‘R’ rated film, but also made a film that had a decidingly “un-superhero” feel to it. Even using the name “Logan” instead of his superhero code name “Wolverine”, shows their commitment of not going down the typical superhero genre route. Again, a big gamble as the superhero genre has proven its’ box office success consistently in the past. ‘Logan’ is a gritty noir film that pays more homage to Westerns than to its’ source superhero material. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of super heroics to be had, but this was an exploration of character over super powers and it is a welcome direction given the amount of times The Wolverine has graced the big screen.
The film is set 15 years in the future where mutants have mysteriously disappeared and an aging Logan (Hugh Jackman) is caring for a deteriorating Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) at a hiding place near the Mexican border. Logan is making ends meet as a limo driver in the hopes of saving enough money to buy a boat, so he and the Professor can live out their remaining years in peace. Another reason for seeking a life at sea, although never implicitly stated, is that the Professor’s deteriorating health has caused him to begin to lose control over his powerful mutant mind and his seizures have begun to become catastrophic for those around him. Helping Logan and the Professor is the albino Caliban, whose mutant ability helps warn them of danger, even as he tends to the Professor’s needs. All seems going according to plan until the mysterious appearance of a woman begging for Logan’s help followed in close pursuit by the semi-cybernetic mercenary Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) intrudes on Logan’s life. For once, Logan isn’t the center of the story as Pierce is in pursuit of a child code named X-23 (Dafne Keen) or Laura as the Professor discovers.
Logan tries not to care, but as events draw him into the conflict, his long dormant hero instincts are revived (albeit with nudging from the Professor) and soon they are all on the run from Donald Pierce and his Reavers. You don’t have to be a comic book fan to enjoy this movie, but if you are there are layers upon layers of meanings to each scene as well as some well planted Easter eggs for the über nerds (or recovering ones like myself). One particular cool one is when Logan finds X-Men comic books in Laura’s pack and the issue he leaves through is issue #132 which is the issue in the comics where Wolverine first encounters Donald Pierce. Now that’s attention to detail and shows true affection for the comic book fans. Despite all of these reverential references, the film strives to be accessible to everyone, telling a universal story of redemption in a backdrop reminiscent of an old Western.
This is the final outing for Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart, but the beauty of having the story take place 15 years in the future is that the studios can still do anything they want with the characters going forward. I doubt this is the last we will see of The Wolverine or Professor Xavier. I recommend this film even if you aren't a fan of the genre. You need only the most rudimentary knowledge of the characters to understand what is going on and you might be surprised by how engaged you become with the characters on their last journey. My hats off and much respect to James Mangold and Hugh Jackman on not taking the easy and safe way out on their last outing.
I give this film *** 1/2 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment