Logan

2017's "Logan" by James Mangold.

Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, and Dafne Keen.

Set in the almost mutant free future of 2029, we see Logan, who's diminishing anti-aging and healing powers have started to make him look his actual age, toil away as an exhausted man. Employed thanklessly as a limo driver by day, Logan works at night as his mentor's caregiver (Professor Charles Xavier), whom is suffering from some sort of dementia that causes the telepath to uncontrollably issue massive paralyzing sonic waves. As well, Logan's adamantium that is coated on his bones is now operating like a cancer, forcing him to drink constantly to block out the pain. Complicating things is a young mutant girl (Keen), who shares more in common with Logan than he would care to admit. Keen comes around looking for safety from the relentless government agency that performed experiments on her to make her a living weapon. The agency gets wise to Logan trying to hide her, and the chase is on, as the trio hits the road in search of a safe zone.

The film's savage violence and language well earns it's R rating (taking it's cues from last year's "Deadpool"). This is a brutal and apocalyptic journey, with welcomed real world consequences from super human powers and abilities. The film's viscera is a welcome change to the bloodless comic book universe (not counting 2009's "Watchmen" and again, "Deadpool"), but even more welcome in the film are the moments of silence.

Here, Jackman (who has sworn this is the last time he will play the character), shows the pain and suffering of living more lifetimes and losing more people than anyone would ever care to. While director Mangold is not new to the X-Men universe (he made 2013's "The Wolverine"), the character arc of Logan here is unfortunately something we've seen before. From containing his feral anger, to learning how to trust people, to being open to the possibility of love, to being a leader when that's everything his instincts rally against, Logan's arc plays like something that is unaware of the previous 9(!) movies Wolverine at least makes a cameo in. While it's refreshing to see a comic book movie that is both insular from other movies/universes, AND conclusive (with no end credits button), it's a shame that "Logan" couldn't have been made sooner (maybe at some point in the series' peak in 2003-2006?). Either way, for the last time, Jackman puts in the work of 2 feral animals, and I can't wait to see what he does moving forwards. As for the Wolverine/X-Men canon, there are always rumours swirling about, such as a reboot of the Wolverine character. Given it's made over half a billion on just under a 100 million budget, could this really be Wolverine's final cut?

3.5/5
 

Trailer: Click Here.