Logan (2017)

Logan

Dir: James Mangold

 

Brutally Brilliant

Logan sees the final return of Hugh Jackman to the character he made his own back in 2000 – as well as rekindling a collaboration with writer/director James Mangold. It is strange to think this Wolverine feature exists in the same universe as X-Men: Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Even Mangold’s previous instalment with the adamantium anti-hero, the Japan-based Wolverine (2013), possesses a huge gulf in tone and genre.

Logan is adapted from the Mark Millar’s graphic novel Wolverine: Old Man Logan, revolving around the idea of an aged and weary Logan. Set in the disturbingly close 2029, Logan is aged and tired living an aimless existence as a limo driver whilst looking after another aged and tired mutant - Professor X (Patrick Stewart). Mutants are no longer a contemporary issue, they have either died out, been killed or in hiding like Logan.

However, this existence is then disrupted by the introduction of a mysterious little girl named Laura, who is brought to Wolverine by her mother – telling him there are people after her little girl. This leads Logan on to a course of protection and revenge - a narrative through line harking back to Bryan Singer’s X-Men with Logan’s protective instincts over Rogue. And as the plot unfolds, even when the banal instances come (and they do) it still maintains that dreary, grounded atmosphere the film establishes in the opening scenes.

The pacing was the most striking element about Logan – considering most marvel and superhero films involve the same generic plotlines. The film continually emphasises the dreariness of Logan’s plight. Even the action in the early stages, Logan practically begs the bandits hoping to steal from him that he does not want to fight. And in the next moments we realise why. Taking full advantage of its R rating, the violence is vivid and blood curdling. In many altercations the Wolverine takes no prisoners and practically dissects each of his opponents. The R-Rated personality of film doesn’t stop there, as Logan continually swears throughout the film – usually in front of the young girl, adding a distinct level of edge to the gory proceedings.

This R-Rated, noir-ish, dystopian view of our favourite X-Man is beautifully shot along with a captivating central performance by Hugh Jackman. The grounded edge of Logan is something that differentiates the film from many, if not all, its other superhuman cohorts. Plus the final shot is the best ending to any marvel film – hard-hitting, symbolic and elegant. A deserved send off for a brilliant character.