Wolverine’s final hurrah and one of the grittier looking Marvel films yet but will it become more than just a hack and slash.
Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Charles (Patrick Stewart) find themselves twisting in the wind as they grow old in an ever changing world. Living off the beaten track with the companionship of Caliban (Steven Merchant), the three look after each other in the dusty valleys of Mexico. The aged and battered Logan scratches out a living as a limo driver, helping to pay for Charle’s medicine as he struggles with memory loss and seizures. A potent mix for a brain with almost limitless power.
As their day to day routine starts to show cracks, life throws a curveball into the mix. Old enemies with new heads rear up to cause havoc, throwing Logan and Charles back into a life they thought they had left behind. The surprise arrival of a young Hispanic girl, Laura, throws Logan into a difficult moral position. Dafne Keen as Laura, shows incredible promise as a young actor, providing a very tangible reality to her character’s fantastical conception. This combined with a deeply affecting performance by Jackman and Stewart makes for a heady and emotional journey. Merchant’s portrayal of Caliban strikes just the lightest of comedy strokes, contrasting the vein of true sadness that runs throughout. While the balance of the entire narrative is bleak it is never guilty of being self indulgent, the emotions brought into play expertly bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. In a nutshell it is this ability to tap into the audience’s emotions and draw empathy that makes this film so gripping.
Being a blockbuster Hollywood movie it could never be complete without some serious fireworks. Logan does not go lacking for brutally visceral fight scenes, dramatic car chases or out of this world CGI effects. Thankfully all these things are rationed throughout the movie and never feel overplayed, something a vast majority of Marvel films have been overwhelmingly guilty of. Despite the austere nature of the film Logan does get the use of a particularly sweet ride, the limo used for his night job offers some initial luxury followed by a trip to Las Vegas. Semi-mechanical bad guys, grappling hook guns and squadrons of drones, all help remind you there is something more going on than your average beat-em-up.
The cinematography and the use of setting is fantastic. One of the most eye catching shots in the movie is captured inside an abandoned water tower, using the gentle filter of light through the cracks to echo the fractured mind of Charles. This simple beauty is captured again and again with great purpose as Charles tries to show the small pleasures in life to Logan. This balance between the brutality of their existence and what can and should be shows off another layer of clever thought that has gone into the film.
When you pull apart just a fraction of what Logan is trying to capture it radiates class. The execution of its vision and the love and devotion poured into it make this the best X Men film without question. I can only hope this will be an example for all Marvel films to follow.
Author: Joe, Bath store
