#BRWC10: Ageing Films

1/ LOGAN. DIR: JAMES MANGOLD.

I’m not going to sugar-coat this. Logan is as perfect as it could possibly be. In a world where superheroes rule the cinema, we got one that was different, emotional and truly extraordinary. This might very well be my favourite superhero film, it’s certainly one of my favourites. In general. This was Hugh Jackman’s final role as the character that he had played for nearly two decades and there was no better way to send him off.

Logan has grown old, and as such his power of healing any injury almost instantly has been completely compromised. Now miserable, with a girl who he must escort to a place safe from those who are hunting here, Logan’s story is a bleak one. It borders depressing at times – for this, I do understand why not everyone loves this film. The foul language and surprisingly brutal violence, which help make the film as superb as it is, were probably a little too shocking to some audiences too. But every bit of this is warranted. Logan is tired, and almost everyone he cares about has died a long time ago. The causes that he used to fight for are now gone. It’s no surprise that he is hesitant to help the girl, who later turns out to be his daughter – for lack of a better word.

Again, working as a passing of the torch film and channelling the spirit of westerns like True Grit, The Good the Bad and the Ugly and Shane – which is also featured in one scene of the film. Logan as a film feels old, despite being new. There’s even a version out there, Logan Noir, which features a black-and-white version of the film. I highly recommend this version as it does add to the experience somewhat. It’s not a product of the time, it feels like a product from a long dead era. Not only does this add to the aged themes of the film, it ironically makes it timeless.

I really can’t recommend Logan enough, it’s one I constantly call out as a great film. To me, there is no other film that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of ageing. It’s bleak and tired, but it’s not without moments of happiness. Again, it’s near flawless. I recommend it to anybody. It’s one that will stick with me for the rest of my time.