The push is on. Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, a family film he made because his family asked him to, opens in theaters on Wednesday November 23 here in the US, just in time for the long holiday weekend. A few days ago I surmised that Hugo was meant to be Scorsese’s (an avowed film fan as well as a curator of celluloid and keeper of the flame) sonnet to moviemaking. Everything I’ve read about the film, as well as what the master himself had to say to Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" last week, bears that out.

One of the main characters is Georges Méliès, one of the first and most influential filmmakers of the 20^th century (played by Sir Ben Kingsley) who had by the 1930’s retired to a toy shop in Paris, just as his cinematic counterpart has.  Not having read Brian Selznick’s book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I cannot wait to find out how  Méliès, an orphaned boy, whose father has left him an automaton, a clock and a key all fit together.

We have gorgeous new character posters to share as well as a host of beautiful images, many of which show us characters we haven’t seen before, including those played by Emily Mortimer, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour and the great Christopher Lee. I highly recommend Martin Scorsese’s interview with Jon Stewart. The whole interview wasn’t available except in the context of the entire show. If you’re interested, you can find it here.  Hugo opens November 23 in the US & Canada and 2 December in the UK. Enjoy the pics!