'Hugo' 3D - A Surprise Screening @ NYFF

By Larry Yepez Jr.

The Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese gave the New York Film Festival audience a sneak peek at his latest film, Hugo, which is a "work in progress"...meaning, his 3-D family adventure film has no final special effects, no finalized color, and no final music. Regardless of the unfinished film, the audience at Avery Fisher Hall apparently loved it and gave Marty a standing ovation.

Hugo is based on the 2007 best-seller Hugo Cabaret by Brian Selznick, about an orphan (played by Asa Butterfield), who lives in a train station in the 1930's Paris. He befriends another orphan, played by Chloe Moretz, and the two are pursued by a goofy police man, played by Sasha Baron Cohen.

In the film, the orphan fixes clocks at the train station and tinkers with a broken robot left behind by his late father  (Jude Law).  Ben Kingsley co-stars as George Melies, the real-life silent cinema pioneer who did spend his last years selling toys in Paris' train stations.

The screenplay was written by John Logan (The Aviator). Although Hugo is Scorsese's first family adventure, there's still a dark edge to it, as to be expected. After all, this is the man who made Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and The Departed, for which he won the 2006 Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.

The surprise screening at the New York Film Festival was announced just a few hours before it took place. A good strategy to add hype to the film's pre-release buzz.

"This is a work in progress," Scorcese told the packed audience. "I hope that those of you who really do like it come and see the final film."

"We're just as proud this evening to have this film," Pena said.

Rumors that co-producer Johnny Depp has a cameo are still uncertain. Apparently a painter who makes a brief appearance in the film looks a lot like him. Although Paramount said that it's not the acclaimed actor, the studio apparently wouldn't confirm whether or not Depp will be appearing at all, I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

The film is due to hit theaters on November 23rd.

Are you excited to see Hugo, Scorsese's first family film?

Tags Asa Butterfield, Avery Fisher Hall, Beauty and the Beast, ben kingsley, Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Brian Selznick, Chloe Moretz, George Melies, Goodfellas, Hugo, Hugo Cabaret, John Logan, johnny depp, Jude Law, Martin Scorsese, New York Film Festival, Paramount Pictures, Raging Bull, Richard Pena, Sasha Baron Cohen, Taxi Driver, The Aviator, The Departed