Logan:
My Sweetest Friend
The X-Men film franchise is one reaching back to the year 2000, currently 9 films deep (10 if you count Deadpool) and with varying degrees of quality. I’ve never really been all that invested in the saga, watching the films every now and again but not going out of my way to do so. But sometimes even an old franchise can show promise of new blood, offering a shift in tone that can be for the better. The newest entry in this franchise, Logan, is more than just a promise, however; Logan is a triumph.
With the past 2 Wolverine solo films, featuring Hugh Jackman consistently playing the titular character, the quality has been varied; X-Men Origins: Wolverine (A film I may well cover in the future) was a train wreck that single-handedly delayed Deadpool for a decade, made Fox abandon a Magneto solo film, and made Fox release X-Men: First Class to completely erase the events of the Wolverine stand-alone film in the franchise’s timeline; The Wolverine fared slightly better, focusing more on the development of Logan’s character and his history rather than trying to make him look cool. While a good film for developmental reasons, it still wasn’t all that memorable. This brings us to what Jackman has said will be his final outing as Wolverine. I’ve already stated my feelings on the film, but what makes me feel so strongly towards this movie? What separates this finale from superhero films of the past? Well, the best place to start is at the story.
Logan is the story of the title character, the man once known as the X-Man "Wolverine", in the somewhat bleak near-future as one of the last surviving mutants. Complete with claws coated in an incredibly strong metal and a now-slowing superhuman healing ability, Logan has become complacent in working long hours and merely surviving. As our protagonist comes across a new mutant in trouble, however, he reluctantly takes the mantle of “hero” one more time in order to help his new companion. With the help of the few comrades left in his life, including a dementia-ridden Professor Xavier with now-unpredictable telekinetic abilities, the ex-X-Man-man embarks on a quest to save one of the last mutants alive, all while hunted by a mutant tracker with dubious intent. The plot of this film is rather simple compared to most X-Men films, letting complex politics take a backseat to merely going from point A to point B. However, this isn’t to say that the film is simple in and of itself; Instead, Logan takes the time to look at mortality and the ravages of old age. Logan’s body no longer works the way it’s supposed to, Professor Xavier’s mind is no longer all there, and the world itself feels more desolate than ever. It’s clear, through every familiar character that now lives in an unfamiliar world, that this film is about the issues one faces in their old age. This film does not shy away from the damage of aging, instead asking the audience to face their own mortality in a bittersweet way. The interactions between old characters and new ones, such as new mutant Laura, only serves to demonstrate the hope that the future holds. Laura, brought to life by the young Dafne Keen, is equal parts precocious, furious, and complex. Her interactions with Logan demonstrate their reluctant bond while her screen time with Xavier never failed to bring a smile to my face. Overall, the film is almost more comparable to a Western or a drama than it is a superhero film. It’s a wonderfully emotional journey that warmed my heart as well as left me feeling empty in just the right ways. In terms of plot, Logan nails it.
When we look at music in a film, there are elements that we tend to expect from respective genres: Westerns are lonely and full of unrefined instruments such as guitars and fiddles; Thrillers are scored by orchestras continually shrieking in an effort to keep tensions high; Superhero films are full of triumphant horns and epic scales. We know these and expect them in a film to help guide the emotions of the audience in a meaningful way. Sometimes, however, this sonic manipulation can help change expectations of a film. Advertisements and trailers for Logan began in October of 2016, 5 months prior to the film’s release. The thing that immediately stood out to me was the song choice within the trailers: Johnny Cash’s version of the song “Hurt.” The track, for those who may have somehow avoided it, is a lonely one that seems to contemplate a life at its end and reflect upon mistakes made. In short, this song makes me feel things. Sad things. Devastating, “we’re all going to die one day” things. That’s not what you’d normally expect from a superhero film. In fact, I can confidently say that this single song choice altered the expectations for this film from the typical fare of action and excitement to something more dramatic. When I went in, I expected to see a sort of mashup between the genres of action, drama, and neo-western. Not only was I right, but the sound track helped solidify this. Even in its most bass-enriched action sequences, Logan stands out with a use of minimalist music and instruments often associated with genres outside of the superhero films, such as the harmonica. This sound track decision helps to transform the film, bringing it into a mixed bag of genres that ultimate creates an interesting film with engaging music.
The effects in Logan are definitely a highlight, offering a strong blend of realistic and creative that aids in my firm praise of the film as a whole. They look fantastic, envisioning a future both familiar enough to seem plausible and fantastic enough to captivate the audience. Advanced vehicles, holograms, and cybernetic enhancements all make the world feel just barely out of reach; Obtainable in a matter of years, but still far enough away to intrigue the audience. All of these are well-designed, sleek and sexy yet with a few glitches to keep a sense of realism. Likewise, they are treated as mundane by the characters within. There’s perhaps one moment in the entire film in which a technology is pointed out through dialogue, the rest of the technologies left alone in favor of silently signaling to the audience how the world has changed. We have plenty of other beautiful effects, from almost disturbingly flexible cybernetic limbs to Logan’s claws. Perhaps my favorite effect in the film, however, is Xavier’s unstable telekinesis. In addition to Xavier’s dementia, old age has brought about seizures that cause the old professor’s powers to act wildly. As such, the world and everyone around him becomes frozen in a moment, trapped in their own bodies as they struggle to move. It’s a harrowing experience to see, a constantly shaking screen mixing with a constant high-pitched sound. It draws you in with such small details and makes you feel the stress of both the characters, trapped in the moment, as well as Xavier, trapped in his own body. It’s such a simple effect, yet its use is stunning.
For this review, I think it’s important to once again talk about the use of the rating system. As I previously talked about in my Deadpool review, the rating of a film can have major impacts on both how a film is received and how wide an audience it can reach. PG-13 films have a much wider spectrum of who they can reach, increasing the odds of turning a profit at the expenses of elements of cursing, sex, and violence. R-rated films, on the other hand, are far less restricted in content while simultaneously being a bit more of a gamble for studios. To assure that Logan would be rated R, Hugh Jackman reportedly took a large pay cut so that Wolverine could curse to the fullest extent of his character as well as shed enough blood to make Quentin Tarantino wince. This gamble paid off and then some, offering a more humanized version of the character. Depressed, moody, stubborn, and perpetually temperamental: That’s who Logan ultimately is. When he curses, the titular character never seems to do so for the sake of cursing; It is an expression of frustration, of anger, and of the constant downward spiral that he has encountered throughout his days. The blood he sheds, be it his own or someone else’s, feels so important to his character; It’s a physical manifestation of the anger with which he views the world. Not to mention, forgiving my lack of flowery dialect in this instance, it’s just really cool. I will openly admit that I had a rush of dopamine kick me in the face during one of the later sequences, my jaw dropping in a goofy grin as I saw Jackman showing no mercy. It was brutal; It was vicious; It was beautiful. Even as someone who is critical of film and mindless violence, I can still enjoy a great action scene from time to time. Thanks to the R-rating that Logan used with both grace and brutality, I got to enjoy one of these rare occasions while still feeling an emotional pull all the while.
As far as re-watching Logan goes, I’d say there’s something added with a few additional viewings. I’ve watched this film three times now, and each time I grow to appreciate the interwoven relationships between characters a bit more. Character development is best described as a lasting and impactful change to a character’s personality throughout their story. In Logan, this is one of the elements that shines brightest. We learn about these characters and get a chance to see them evolve in front of our very eyes. We come to understand how the world views between our three main characters differ: whether it’s by way of what sometimes feels like fruitless hope for humanity, a downtrodden focus on the worst of the world, or an ignorant but withdrawn perspective on others, we as an audience get to see these characters’ priorities shift as they come to terms with the idea that none of them may truly be right. Seeing these starting points and tracking them with the knowledge of how it all ends ultimately feels like a privilege. Beyond this… Well, you can grow to appreciate some of the futuristic designs, but it’s honestly not the most intriguing film after the first viewing. Is it worth a first viewing? Definitely. A second? I’d recommend it. Beyond that, maybe give it a rest for a little while before diving back in.
Logan is one of those rare films that blends genre in a way that could be studied in a cinema class while still having mass appeal. The way it eases away from the superhero genre, instead defining itself through emotional highs and lows while remaining simplistic in its ultimate plot, is an absolute pleasure to view. As both a critic and a film junkie, I think this film deserves to be recognized for all it achieves. For viewers looking for spectacle, there’s plenty of it here; Car chases combined with violence and some funny lines. For viewers looking for emotion, there’s a story of giving in to the expectations of the world and how old age can change your outlook on life. Ultimately, this is a film that I think I could watch with my grandmother, my parents and my brother without losing anyone’s attention. Take it from me: That’s not an easy task. Regardless of movie preference, I urge you to give Logan a try. No matter what you tend to look for in a film, I think there’s something for you to enjoy. Happy viewing.