LOGAN (2017) Review

THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS

“This is what life looks like: people who love each other… a home. You should take a moment, feel it. You still have time.”

   I’ve only given two Marvel films perfect scores: ‘X-Men 2’ and ‘Spiderman 2’. After the multiple X-men films hardly any came close to the flawlessness of X2. Days of Future Past was the closest, but was barely as perfect. After viewing 2009’s dreadful X Men Origins I would have never thought that a Wolverine film could make me tear up. Then the ‘Logan’ trailer came one day and we knew it was going to be an emotionally heavy film, but nothing truly prepared me for the beautiful sendoff of ‘Logan’. Even though I knew we’d say goodbye to two iconic X-Men characters that we’ve seen on the screen for almost two decades. Professor Xavier and Wolverine have always had the father and son relationship and the core of ‘Logan’ is about family. Jackman and Stewart gave some of their best performances in this film.

  Logan isn’t really a typical superhero film… it’s more drama than action. From the very first scene Logan tells you it’s not your typical X-Men film. Logan wakes up in the back of his car to the realization that he’s being robbed. Logan is old and worn-down. He even struggles to take them out. When he was in his prime he would have taken them all out in under a minute, but he is beaten up in the process almost like he wants to feel the pain. The viewer learns that Logan is a driver in order to make enough money to pay for Xavier’s medication and to get a boat to leave with Xavier. Xavier, who is now 90, is becoming senile and has seizures that cause psychic outbursts. Logan keeps Xavier in an abandoned warehouse in Mexico with Caliban who is also one of the last mutants left.

   Soon Donald, who is a mercenary, comes to Logan looking for someone of great importance to him. Logan tells him to go and Donald threatens him with knowing Xavier is still alive. Later, a mysterious easily angered girl named Laura crosses paths with Logan. She even has the same abilities as Logan himself. Once she’s there Donald and his group of mercenaries invades Logan’s hideout. After barely escaping Logan is tasked with transporting Laura to a safe haven and keeping a close eye on Xavier while still being pursued by Donald.

    I love how ‘Logan’ tackles the issue of how almost all of the mutants are gone now. Logan has been hiding the reason from ever increasing confused Xavier. Fleeing from Vegas after Xavier has an intense seizure, showing what his decreasing mind is capable of, they stay with a family on their farm. He suddenly remembers everything asking whom he thinks is Logan, “I don’t deserve it, do I? I did something unspeakable. I remembered what happened in Westchester. This in not the first time that I’ve hurt people. Until today, I didn’t know. You didn’t tell me, so we kept on running away from it. I think I finally understand you.” He remembers that his outburst was the reason for the death of several, if not almost all the X-Men, what is even more heartbreaking is that he’s confessing this to Logan’s clone who then murders him. It’s ironic, Xavier brought together so many mutants together in order to protect them and in the end he’s the one that has destroyed them.

    From the first moment that Laura appears on the screen the viewer just knows that she’s the daughter of Logan. ‘Logan’ is at its core about family. Logan walks in on Laura and Xavier watching the film ‘Shane’. Where Shane says, “A man has to be what he is, Joey. Can’t break the mould. I tried it and it didn’t work for me.” This is how Logan is through most of the film. “I suck at this,” he tells Laura. He tries to do his best in his own unique way. Laura and Logan are so much alike that they butt heads a lot. For example, their argument in the car Laura stole. She wants to go to Eden, but he doesn’t want to go. She starts get hot tempered. Logan being stubborn and tired then Laura being stubborn and angry. At the end, Logan discovers what a child’s love is. Logan places his hand on Laura finally taking a moment to feel what it is to love and be loved. “This is what it is,” he says when he finally realizes it. She simply replies, “daddy.” I promise your eyes will get watery.

   This is the Wolverine film that fans have been asking for. The previous X-Men films made Logan and Xavier to be clever, humorous, and overall fairly put together. It’s not like it in ‘Logan’. They are worn out from their many adventures. They are both physically and emotionally tired. Dafne Keen was absolutely fantastic as Laura. Lastly, hats off to director James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma). I actually believe it has a good chance for an Oscar nomination. Yes, that’s how good it is.

5 out of 5