The incredibly likeable Asa Butterfield, the boy who stole our hearts in ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,’plays Hugo Cabret a troubled orphan living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station in the early 1930’s.
Joining him in his adventure is another child actress ready for stardom Chloe Grace Moretz who practically stole the show at NY’s press conference promoting the film.
Hugo, Scorsese’s first animated 3D film is visually gorgeous and will wondrously take you away.
This magical mystery adventure involving his late father and a broken automation also stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, the always captivating Ben Kingsley and Jude Law with a very small but catchy role.
Even though the movie’s long like most Scorsese masterpieces, you get your money’s worth and the kids will be dazzled.
The stars came out to the Ritz Carlton in NYC for a press conference packed with reporters ready to talk.
Describe your characters and what your biggest challenge was?
Asa: “Hugo is an orphan, he’s had to grow up faster than anyone else his age should have and I found it quite hard to relate to him with all the hardships he’s gone through. The biggest challenge was probably doing the crying scenes. It was draining mentally and physically.”
Chloe: “I play Isabelle and she’s probably a lot like Hugo in that she doesn’t have a mom or dad but she has a godfather and a godmother. And I would say the hardest part was always trying to conquer the accent.”
Asa’s character Hugo loves old cinema, similar to that in real life of director Martin Scorsese especially when he was a young kid.
How did Asa feel about playing this role?
Asa: “It was an amazing experience. Before the audition I was looking up 1930’s Paris, so when I finally got the part and saw the set it was incredible the set design and nothing could take you out of character. The set was spotless in that respect and that was really helpful to become the character.”
How was working with Martin Scorsese?
Sacha Baron Cohen: “I think that’s the key about Scorsese that he’s totally collaborative” said Cohen who plays the creepy station inspector. “And that’s part of his power and part of the reason why his films are so successful.” Any idea that I came up with he was willing to listen to, and surprisingly, because I came up with some pretty absurd ideas. He was ready to try them out like the bath with the dog.” That would be the “suggestive” and funny scene where he bathes with his dog. “He was willing to try out any idea no matter how ludicrous the suggestion was.”
Chloe Moretz: “It was a magical experience working with him and a magical experience working with all these amazing actors.” The young Moretz who is on her way to becoming an actress to be reckoned with, even fooled the iconic director during her audition.
“When Marty flew Asa and I to NY to do a chemistry read, we walked into this screening room and I was fully British from like meeting Marty until the end of the audition until I went back to my American accent and the whole time he thought I was British. So when it was time to leave I said, “Okay thanks Marty in my American accent and he went woh!” You’re American? “And I said yes and he said you fooled me kid.” “Yes I did fool you but it worked, it worked. “
And when asked by a reporter to do her fake British accent for us what did the wise young lady say? “Well, the movie opens November 23 so go see it.” Well, there you go. The kid’s already a pro. Hugo in 3D opens Wednesday.