Logan - Rewind Review #1 (Non-Spoiler/Spoiler)
Directed By: James Mangold
Rating: R
Rating: R
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant, Stephen Merchant
Blurb/Synopsis: In the near future, a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) at a remote outpost on the Mexican borer. His plan to hide from the outside world gets upended when he meets a young mutant (Dafne Keen) who is very much like him. Logan must now protect the girl and battle the dark forces that want to capture her.
Expectations/Background: Hugh Jackman's Wolverine has seen it all. He's been in some of the best X-Men films of all time in X-Men, X-2, and X-Men: Days of Future Past but he's also been in some of the worst like X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Now, after first donning the claws in 2000 on the silver screen, Jackman has stated that Logan will be the last time we see this iteration of Wolverine. James Mangold, who directed The Wolverine, which I personally thought was good amidst some flaws, returns to direct the film. Not only that, but the film was to be rated R. However, other than that, not much was known about the film for the longest time. The title wasn't even revealed until late 2016, going under The Wolverine 3 for awhile. The first trailer, dropping in fall of 2016, set the world on fire as we saw a weary, battered Logan and a dying Professor X as Johnny Cash music plays in the background. Slowly, the hype began to build as many began to realize the direction this film was going - more of a Western than a traditional action-filled adventure. Going into Logan, I was nervous, but also had huge anticipation. If this truly was to be Hugh Jackman's las time as the famed mutant, I hoped that Mangold and crew sent him off well. But, I had faith - Jackman knows the character better than everyone, and I knew this film would be something special.
The Movie: Absolutely floored. There's no doubt about it - this is my favorite and perhaps the best (subjectively speaking) comic book movie that I have ever seen. Logan delivers in all regards with the emotion, the action, the performances, and most of all the hear.
Positives: So much to talk about in the positives. Hugh Jackman gives the performance of his life as Logan/Wolverine. The way he's able to act throughout the film, slowly becoming more and more weary and tired as the film progresses and being able to convey what he's feeling through his actions more so than exposition is superb. Patrick Stewart also gives a performance worth of an Oscar as Professor Charles Xavier. The concept of him having dementia is an intriguing one as it puts real dramatic tension between the characters. What I enjoyed about The Wolverine was that, for a period of the film, it made Logan vulnerable and not the indestructible machine we know him to be. This movie takes the main characters and gives them vulnerability and weakness that draws out the bad in them, but also forces out what good is left in these characters. Even Stephen Merchant as Caliban, the tracker mutant, gives a very nice, warm performance that contrasts with the other characters so well.
And major kudos to Dafne Keen, as she gives a performance that stands out, acting besides two actors that have experience, fame, and major star power. She is not given a lot of dialogue, but she doesn't need much, because her character conveys what she's feeling through her emotions and her facial expressions.
This film is rated R and there is a lot of action and gore in the film. How was it used? I believe that at some points, as an audience member, you begin to say, "Maybe that's a little unrealistic and gory," but right away, it's toned down. It's not overly violent; the best word I can use to describe it is realistic.
But I believe that this film was rated R not for the violence and language, but actually for the tone. The tone is so perfectly dreary and desperate which fits so well with the narrative that James Mangold crafts. Speaking of Mangold, his shots and cinematography are gorgeous at some points in the film. This film was not made for the 500 million dollar budget (exaggerated) that some other films are made for, but with what money he had, he crafts this beautiful, yet haunting dystopian world that the characters inhabit.
This is truly a film for the ages.
Negatives: There are not many, but I do have a couple gripes with the film. But they feel like nitpicks, and are mostly spoilers. Some of them, however will be discussed in the villains section and others will be addressed in the spoilers section.
Positives: So much to talk about in the positives. Hugh Jackman gives the performance of his life as Logan/Wolverine. The way he's able to act throughout the film, slowly becoming more and more weary and tired as the film progresses and being able to convey what he's feeling through his actions more so than exposition is superb. Patrick Stewart also gives a performance worth of an Oscar as Professor Charles Xavier. The concept of him having dementia is an intriguing one as it puts real dramatic tension between the characters. What I enjoyed about The Wolverine was that, for a period of the film, it made Logan vulnerable and not the indestructible machine we know him to be. This movie takes the main characters and gives them vulnerability and weakness that draws out the bad in them, but also forces out what good is left in these characters. Even Stephen Merchant as Caliban, the tracker mutant, gives a very nice, warm performance that contrasts with the other characters so well.
And major kudos to Dafne Keen, as she gives a performance that stands out, acting besides two actors that have experience, fame, and major star power. She is not given a lot of dialogue, but she doesn't need much, because her character conveys what she's feeling through her emotions and her facial expressions.
This film is rated R and there is a lot of action and gore in the film. How was it used? I believe that at some points, as an audience member, you begin to say, "Maybe that's a little unrealistic and gory," but right away, it's toned down. It's not overly violent; the best word I can use to describe it is realistic.
But I believe that this film was rated R not for the violence and language, but actually for the tone. The tone is so perfectly dreary and desperate which fits so well with the narrative that James Mangold crafts. Speaking of Mangold, his shots and cinematography are gorgeous at some points in the film. This film was not made for the 500 million dollar budget (exaggerated) that some other films are made for, but with what money he had, he crafts this beautiful, yet haunting dystopian world that the characters inhabit.
This is truly a film for the ages.
Negatives: There are not many, but I do have a couple gripes with the film. But they feel like nitpicks, and are mostly spoilers. Some of them, however will be discussed in the villains section and others will be addressed in the spoilers section.
Character Ranking
1. Logan
2. Laura
3. Professor X
4. Caliban
5. The Villains
The Villain(s): Some of you may not know much about the villains, so I will not say much about them, but they are played by Boyd Holbrook and Richard E. Grant. Now, in regards to Boyd Holbrook, his performance is very good. Richard E. Grant is not on screen very much, but I found his performance very out of place at times. However, their performances do not detract form the movie. But, they're not the main focus of the movie and they are merely the driving force that forces Logan to go on the run. That being said, when they appeared onscreen, it felt much like, "We're in the movie, too!" which was a little distracting. This is all a giant nitpick though, but this does prevent me from giving this film a perfect score.
The Music/Score: The score is nothing to write home about. There are some interesting choices made. The score deviates from orchestral excerpts and uses the piano and other unconventional instruments, but it is nothing special and neither detracts nor adds to the film.
Spoilers: If you're reading this and you haven't watched the film, please think again because heavy, heavy spoilers will be discussed. You have been doubly warned. Logan's death was perfect. He had to go, and when he did, the entire theater was quiet, dead silent. The moment was touching, emotional, and such a perfect send off to our favorite mutant. Charles' death irked me some time after I saw the film because I felt that it was too sudden and was glossed over, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized the beauty of it. The realization that Charles was not killed by Logan but he thought he was was so dark and beautiful at the same time. Speaking of Charles' death, we need to talk about X-24. X-24 - I'm mixed on. I thought that a Wolverine clone was a smart idea, but I felt that he was just there to be the muscle. Everything else that I had an issue on, the more I've thought about it, the more it's settled in and I've been able to forgive. But X-24 is the one thing that bugs me slightly. But like I said earlier, minor, minor nitpicks.
1. Logan
2. Laura
3. Professor X
4. Caliban
5. The Villains
The Villain(s): Some of you may not know much about the villains, so I will not say much about them, but they are played by Boyd Holbrook and Richard E. Grant. Now, in regards to Boyd Holbrook, his performance is very good. Richard E. Grant is not on screen very much, but I found his performance very out of place at times. However, their performances do not detract form the movie. But, they're not the main focus of the movie and they are merely the driving force that forces Logan to go on the run. That being said, when they appeared onscreen, it felt much like, "We're in the movie, too!" which was a little distracting. This is all a giant nitpick though, but this does prevent me from giving this film a perfect score.
The Music/Score: The score is nothing to write home about. There are some interesting choices made. The score deviates from orchestral excerpts and uses the piano and other unconventional instruments, but it is nothing special and neither detracts nor adds to the film.
**READER DISCRETION ADVISED - SPOILER ALERT - IF YOU WANT TO AVOID SPOILERS SKIP TO "VERDICT"**
Spoilers: If you're reading this and you haven't watched the film, please think again because heavy, heavy spoilers will be discussed. You have been doubly warned. Logan's death was perfect. He had to go, and when he did, the entire theater was quiet, dead silent. The moment was touching, emotional, and such a perfect send off to our favorite mutant. Charles' death irked me some time after I saw the film because I felt that it was too sudden and was glossed over, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized the beauty of it. The realization that Charles was not killed by Logan but he thought he was was so dark and beautiful at the same time. Speaking of Charles' death, we need to talk about X-24. X-24 - I'm mixed on. I thought that a Wolverine clone was a smart idea, but I felt that he was just there to be the muscle. Everything else that I had an issue on, the more I've thought about it, the more it's settled in and I've been able to forgive. But X-24 is the one thing that bugs me slightly. But like I said earlier, minor, minor nitpicks.
SPOILER ALERT OVER
The Verdict: This is a film for the ages. If this film gets serious Oscar-buzz, I will not be the least bit surprised. This film is Oscar-worthy. Hugh Jackman says good bye to the character of Logan (for now?) in the most beautiful and touching manner, as the Wolverine as we know him will rest forever more. Letter Grade: A+. Number Score: 9.8
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