The newest film in Fox’s X-Men franchise, “Logan” is a powerful and more mature take that borders the comic-book and western genres.
The film follows an older and weary Wolverine (Jackman) as he protects the mysterious Laura (Dafne Keen) from a group of mercenaries with the help of his friend and mentor, Professor X (Patrick Stewart).
The plot of the film seems straightforward but is surprisingly complex in terms of detail and emotional investment as it follows the three on their journey. The world of “Logan” has plenty of mysteries, some of which are never answered and some that are answered passively in the background, encouraging a rewatch to catch things that may have been missed otherwise.
The main issue with the plot revolve around some specific story beats that may come across as cliche, but this never detracts too much from the story’s overall quality. The film can also be slow at times, especially compared to other movies in the comic book genre, but these slow moments provide some nice emotional segments for the characters.
These small plot issues can be overlooked due to the extremely strong performances delivered by the cast. Jackman leads the way with his best performance as Wolverine, providing the snark the character is known for mixed with a newfound weariness. Stewart also performs well as a weaker and more confused Professor X, complementing Jackman nicely. The real standout, however, is newcomer Dafne Keen as Laura. Keen provides a tangible sense of strength and pure rage in her role, making her extremely fun to watch and easy to invest in. Boyd Holbrook rounds out the cast as the villainous and arrogant Pierce, making him a nice foil to Wolverine.
These performances help to make the film’s character development the driving force of the film. Wolverine’s arc is extremely well-done, feeling concise yet complete and believable. The heart of the film comes from the bonds that the three leads foster and develop through their journey, making it easy to care about what happens to them and leading to some satisfying payoffs in the end. The film also feels like a culmination of all the films featuring Wolverine and Professor X, making it even more impactful and conclusive.
“Logan” is also incredible visually. The film’s lighting and color choices help emphasize the different locations and how they feel, ranging from the solitude of the desert to the hustle and bustle of the city. These backdrops and locations also provide a sense of realistic wonder, emphasizing the natural and practical look of the film. The film also contains some beautiful shots that come across as simple yet extremely effective in their nature. The only detractor in the film’s visuals come from some barely-used CGI that seems out of place in comparison to everything else.
Overall, “Logan” is a must-see for fans of the character or comic book movies in general. Audiences should know that the film takes it’s R-rating seriously, however, and ups the language and violence to “Deadpool” levels and makes it inappropriate for younger audiences compared to the previous films.
Verdict:
An emotionally compelling journey from start to finish, “Logan” blends powerful performances and stunning visuals to create an incredible send-off for one of cinema’s most beloved heroes.
9/10
