On the Town: Logan

As an inaugural article of this column, let me start with a little history. Long before writing was ever with us, stories existed. Stories were not only intrinsic to society for entertainment, but a key form a education, culture, and transfer of morality.

But this is so bland, stories are so much more. More than just books and words, stories are on stage, on screens, on computers, spoken each day when you tell that funny story. People live other lives through stories. Creating a story is exactly that, Creation. One of the greatest powers any person can possess.

But why all this grand hype for stories? Isn’t this just a movie review column?

Indeed, I’m here to share with you my insight on movies, which is precisely why I share this. I’ve seen several movies, but couldn’t find one I really felt right launching this column with. However, as soon as I finished watching Logan, I knew this one was it.

For you comic book readers out there, get any idea of the “Old-Man Logan” story-line out of your head. This isn’t it, not at all. Also, this is not, and I repeat, NOT along the lines of the X-men movies families have enjoyed. It’s rated R, people, so leave the little ones at home. You’ll be glad you did.

Now that that is out of the way, let’s dig into this movie. Hugh Jackman shows us Logan (Wolverine) in the not-so-distant future on the worst side of life as he’s grown old and not so “Wolverine” anymore. The movie wastes no time in showing just how old and slow he’s gotten and highlights a world where mutants aren’t so abundant anymore. Logan is trying to find a point where he can basically give up on the world and get away from people altogether.

Quite the pessimist as he has ever been, Logan, naturally, ends up in a situation that just won’t let go. After all, it wouldn’t be much of a movie if he made it, now would it? However, you see a lot more from the X-men’s favorite “animal” in this movie. It’s got the adult themes and the existential dread to go with it. If you’ll forgive a little over-dramatic writing, it’s one of a few movies that I feel really speaks. You follow several stories throughout the film from the life of a hero, the price of caring, the line between a hero and legend, and even an old science fiction notion of the “beast” in all of us.

Multiple layers make this an action film that has purpose, as opposed to action films for action’s sake. It’s a Wolverine that’s rated R. So, of course the violence and action is there, but there’s also a thoughtful substance that many films have found lacking, which in turn makes Logan stand out from the genre stereotype. I don’t mean to downplay the visceral action in this movie, but rather celebrate the marriage that so few films find between it and story.

Even the fight choreography tells the difference between Logan and a little girl, the past and the future, rage and genuine struggle. A film that can find plot and story in even these details not only builds a good story, but adds a lot of replay value as well.

Hugh Jackman takes his last chance to show us Logan very seriously and delivers his best performance in the role to date. The movie allows him certain chances to show a level of depth to the character not seen in the previous group films and not fully explored in his solo films. Jackman showcases a real talent and range in Jackman to go from the extreme, rage-filled animal to the depressed and tired hero, then back to a man trying to cope with getting older and facing the trials of just continuing on each day.

There is so much good in the film, and they do so many things right, it can be easy to slap a “Great Movie” sticker on it and move on. In fact, you may ask people who have to think a minute to tell you any issue they had with it. The movie builds on a great story and great action and great acting, but it builds on a bit of a predictability. If you are one of those people who can’t help but guess at a movie’s outcome, it’s not boasting huge plot twists, and for me that’s fine, but maybe not for everyone.

Logan also struggles with the concept of closure. Several issues are left hanging in the end. I want to defend directors that many times will do this on purpose as an ideal. They are trying to make a statement about how “Not all questions get answered” or they are trying to leave you with a small sense of emptiness with a sad movie. Some my leave certain things unanswered as a trope for the idea that while one story ends, life goes on and others continue.

That’s not the case here. In fact, it something I’ve been seeing a lot lately with franchises. Several things are set up and left there just to make you come watch the next movie. It’s a business move to keep you coming back. I just feel it plays poorly as the “Comic Book Movies” of late seem to have been abusing it and so does Logan.

Most movies will always have something, though. People are different and enjoy things differently, many may see Logan and call it perfect, some may not like it at all. You’re always going to find people on both sides of that fence.

As for me, Logan showed great appeal and stood out from other movies to take it’s place among the top. It’s extremely violent and bloody, but every frame builds the movie to greater heights. Indeed, “Logan” is a film I would not only buy on Blu-Ray, but could see myself gathering a group of friends to go watch again at East Town Cinema. To borrow a quote from the comic book inspiration, Logan may be “the very best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice…”