Warning: potential spoilers ahead for Logan. Don't read any further if you want to stay in the dark regarding Hugh Jackman's final Wolverine adventure!
James Mangold's Logan very clearly takes place in a world that is distinct and separate from our own, and yet there is still something frighteningly familiar about it. The film occurs in a dystopian future, but it's one that we can easily imagine occurring within the next few decades. There's a rough and raw sense of realism present in the latest X-Men adventure, and Patrick Stewart recently admitted that certain aspects of the film definitely tie into our current political reality of border security and fear of refugees. The X-Men icon explained:
We are affected by the changing times. You present your part as a person influenced by the times. We did not set out to make a political movie, yet there are echoes in the film that exist today -- that is serendipity. If people want to take messages from this film, then we have done a good job.
Patrick Stewart definitely tempered his comments at the Berlinale Film Festival (via Variety) by admitting that they did not intend to make a political film, but he made sure to point out that certain aspects of Logan's story bear a striking resemblance to the contemporary political landscape. The film leans heavily into the idea of an immigration/border crisis, and its dystopian depiction of the American Southwest often feels like a worst-case scenario described by those who champion tighter borders. Logan does not inherently defend any side of the political debate that it focuses on, but it definitely rips ideas from recent headlines and channels them into its narrative.
That level of serendipity has definitely paid off, as critics have already begun to rave about Logan. The film is a genuinely compelling, hard-R take on Wolverine and Charles Xavier, and it is a fitting sendoff for Hugh Jackman's take on the iconic clawed mutant. The film is currently sitting pretty with a 97% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and CinemaBlend's own Sean O'Connell gave the film a perfect 5/5 star review. This story is not just a good superhero movie; it has easily become one of the best X-Men movies ever committed to film.
However, Logan is a movie about far more than the politics of this particular world. While the idea of instability and border chaos makes for a unique backdrop, Logan is primarily a story about family, the struggle to find meaning in life, and the process of coping with one's final days. The political aspect of it is just the icing on the cake.
We will bring you more information related to Logan as new updates become available. The film will hack and slash its way into theaters on March 3.
Still not convinced? Check out a trailer for Logan on the next page for an even closer look at Hugh Jackman's final outing as our favorite X-Man.
