Logan

Logan (Hugh Jackman) doesn't look good.  His healing factor is failing him and his adamantium bones are now poisoning him to death.  He is making a living as a chauffer in El Paso.  South of the border, he has a place where he is hiding Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart).  Charles is suffering from dementia and causes considerable harm to those around him during his less lucid moments.  Serving as nurse when Logan is away is Caliban (Stephen Merchant), an albino mutant with a gift for tracking mutants.  Enter Laura (Dafne Keen), an 11 year-old genetically-engineered mutant who has abilities nearly identical to Wolverine.  Hmm.  She is being tracked by Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) and his band of cyborgs.  Logan wants to walk away but Charles believes they must aide Laura.  Let the chase begin!

 

This is very somber and dark for a superhero movie.  There is no shortage of killing and much of it is very graphic.  Logan's failing health leads to him having some impressive scars and even what should be fatal open wounds.  On the other side, there are moments that are very sweet.  The brief time when Logan introduces himself as Charles' son and indicates that Laura is his daughter was quite fitting.  I've never thought of Professor X as a father-figure for Logan but it works quite well here.  'Chuck' provides a conscience that Logan wants to ignore.

 

Poignant and sad, it reminds me a bit of Watchman.  All the exciting heroics are in the past which itself is a bygone era.  In a different genre, the performances by Jackman and Stewart are the sort that would be Academy Award material.  Definitely one to see and a great finish for Jackman and Stewart in the X-Men series.