Logan

To movie studios, the words “the end” are only to be either at the closing scene of a movie or accompanied with a sly question mark when the film’s part of a franchise. I’m sure that studios would continue to churn out movie after movie until people literally stop feeding it money because it’s gone far enough. But sometimes when things are on the road to reach that point, one can take the creative exit, and go out not with a fizzle but with a bang. On that note, let’s talk about Logan. Spoiler warning: there is the possibility that I might (hopefully subtly and inadvertently) give away some plot points in my explanation of why this movie is so great, so if you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want anything ruined for you, best if you don’t read this until you’ve watched it. 

Set in a future where biological mutants have more or less died out, Logan (Hugh Jackman in his final depiction of the character) lives day-to-day drunk, in pain, and scrabbling for money to take care of a decaying Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). When Charles tries to tell Logan of a young mutant in need of their help, he dismisses it as delusion. No sooner does this happen then Laura (Dafne Keen) comes to them, on the run from dangerous men and seeking a ride to ‘Eden’. After some bloody persuasion Logan reluctantly agrees to the road trip, but as with any great adventure, time is against them and their enemies are right behind them. 

If you’ve heard anything about Logan or just seen the trailers, then you’ll know that this is not your typical Marvel X-Men movie. The ads depict it more as a gritty noir drama a’ la Cohen Brothers, which has got everyone talking about it. True to what you’ve heard, the aesthetic and feel of this movie is very different to all the other X-Men movies, and this is the first thing that makes it brilliant. A montage of different genres creep into the mix including noir drama and war movie, but the predominant feel is that of the apocalypse film. It could be because we follow such a small cast or it could be the various scenes that take place in arid open landscapes, but there is definitely the feel of Mad Max and The Road about this movie and, when considering the franchise it’s a part of, this filmic choice is what makes Logan absolutely gorgeous! 

While the central storyline is the adventure of the hunt and the road trip, there is so much more happening within this movie that makes it very rich and complex. Amongst the many different stories and themes explored are the concept of time being the true enemy of us all, the potential good and potential threat of the next generation (including the idea of continuing legacy), and the ever-present idea that Wolverine has always been in a metaphorical war with himself. If I had to say any negatives about the film, it would regard the somewhat obvious visual depiction of this last point, which looked great but could have been a little subtler. 

The performances are all glorious with Jackman and Stewart: two decaying, how-the-mighty-have-fallen type grumpy old men just going at it, sniping at each other all the time. All dapperness and PG-13 cynicism goes out the window with this gritty hard R script and I think the guys really enjoyed showing off the fouler sides of their characters. Then we have Dafne Keen who spends the majority of the film mute, but still proves to be a solid little actress standing toe-to-toe with the heavyweights. Her performance is just as strong as Stewart’s or Jackman’s and it’s wonderful to watch her because there is so much mystery about her that keeps us on tender hooks. 

Like any Wolverine movie there is an onslaught of action sequences, which are all very stunning, but very violent. Where Deadpool opened the window to R violence and made it funny, Logan shatters the pane completely with graphic, but beautifully choreographed fight scenes. If you’re squeamish about lots of blood and various forms of mutilation and decapitation, then this may not be the best idea. But for those who can handle it, it’s amazing! 

Long review short, go and see Logan! It’s a fantastic final hurrah from Hugh Jackman and delivers the delicious experience of a multi-layered and gorgeously stylistic genre film. 

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Eriq La Salle, Elise Neal, Quincy Fouse, and Richard E. Grant 

Rating: MA