Logan movie review: a tale of a broken man redeemed

Logan is the story of Wolverine post X-Men when the world no longer needs heroes and mutants are a thing of the past.

This Western-style film was written by Scott Frank and James Mangold, with the latter also claiming a director credit. Mangold had previously directed The Wolverine so he’s no stranger to the character. He’s also directed the critically acclaimed western 3:10 to Yuma which explains why this instalment to the Wolverine franchise feels much like an adage to old Westerns.

In fact, it feels pretty close to the Old Man Logan comics, the aesthetic and general tone of the movie combined with Mangold’s direction is pretty fantastic, to say the least.

The flick is set in an alternate universe, separate to the X-Men franchise and follows a downtrodden Wolverine as he tries to scale a a pit of booze and rage. This all while trying to take care of a dying Professor X.

His dynamic relationship with Professor X and Caliban — a mutant with heightened intelligence and tracking capabilities — depicts both the raging animal and the kindhearted man Logan can be. This dynamic is fleshed out further when Logan has to endure the burden of taking care of a young girl named Laura who was thrust into his care.

Being Hugh Jackman’s final performance as the Wolverine, you can bet it was probably the best we’ve seen him as the feral beast. What’s even more impressive is that his performance portrayed Logan and Wolverine so proficiently that you didn’t need him to wear a bright yellow suit to tell when he transitioned from the man to the beast. Even when it came to his dialogue.

You could really feel the intensity of Jackman’s performance when the story’s pace changed from an action feast to a sombre narrative when Logan and Laura connect on an emotional level for a brief moment.

Logan is a rivetting installment to the X-Men Franchise, and will definitely move you in more ways than one

Spoiler (kind of): There were moments of elation and deafening sorrow in the theatre when Logan cut his way through hordes of enemies and when he lay broken after facing what could possibly be his greatest enemy.

The antagonists of Logan are no slouches either. Pierce, played by Boyd Holbrook, is a ruthless mercenary tasked with tracking down Logan and retrieve Laura. Holbrook might not have that much screen time as other cast members, but he too delivers a strong performance.

To portray the full scope of brutality of Wolverine, the film is rated-R. This gave the creators of Logan all the more freedom to be the beast that he is. The violence and foul language give a strong sense of Logan’s reality.

From a production point of view, the film is shot well and delivers an overall amazing experience for film buffs. For fans of the X-Men series, if you ever felt disappointed because of latest instalments in the franchise, Logan somewhat makes up for those wrongs.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a great action film with loads of drama, and something you and your partner can enjoy, then this is a must watch. That is, unless you’re under-18 or impartial to graphic big-screen violence.

Score: 9/10