Release Date: 11/23/2011 (Limited)
The Artist, written and directed by Michael Hazanavicius, is a black and white silent film about the silent film era, as we take a look at Hollywood in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It is a completely unique movie, as it transports the audience back to a time where silent film was king. The Artist puts a smile on your face and it’s not just because of the technical brilliance, it’s because the story is perfectly developed and the acting, even without speaking, is top notch. It’s amazing that in this day and age with 3D and IMAX becoming the norm, that a black and white film with no dialogue and no real movie stars has captivated audiences around the world, becoming the front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar of 2011.
Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar, working with his favorite director Al Zimmer (John Goodman), as his career is flourishing. Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) is a movie extra and dancer who starts to make a name for herself by appearing in a Valentin film. The arrival of the talkies a few years later changes everything for both actors. For Peppy it seems the skies the limit – major movie stardom waits, while for George it seems like this could be the end of an era. The Artist tells the story of their interlinked destinies, as one actor falls from glory the other begins to rise to it and the relationship they produce along the way.
Even before the classic old-style opening credits, this movie brings you back by shrinking the screen down to a 4:3 format. It’s something I’ve never seen done before and it just adds to that 1920s feel. From then on, I was in awe of how Hazanavicius and company kept you entertained with no dialogue. It may seem like an unfair gimmick to try and do something new, but the way they pulled it off is astounding. They keep you interested and invested in these characters almost all the way through to the end credits. There were only parts toward the 3rd act where I was a little bored and starting to get fed up with the style. There’s always a scene of dialogue that is key to a film and close to the end it felt like it was missing, obviously because there is no dialogue. The filmmakers realize that without dialogue you need some scenes that keep the story going. There are a few Charlie Chaplin-esque shticks that were really well done. A dance with an unknown partner in between a screen, George copying his dog at the table, a drunken hallucination and a fascinating dream sequence that needs to be seen to fully experience how cool it is. The film has some truly amazing moments.
The acting is also very convincing, which is even more impressive considering they don’t speak. Juan Dujardin’s smile explodes onto the screen and I can’t imagine them casting anyone else, going with unknowns was perfect. His “mugging” is phenomenal, as his emotions are smeared across the screen. He also has an interesting character arc, as we see his eventual downfall, he loses his smile and starts to drink. There is one emotional scene where he loses it in a fire and one close to end when he sits in his old apartment with a gun. He completely owns both scenes and it will most likely earn him an Oscar nomination. Berenice Bejo is also very impressive. She holds this cockiness to her character that is fun to watch, especially in a restaurant scene where she is unaware of George sitting behind her. Then towards the end of the film she steals the show in a few scenes where she sheds some tears.
The score is also going to be a force in the Oscar race. Ludovic Bource’s music carries the film, which it needs to with no other sound. It ranges from quiet and charming to loud and sinister. It’s almost guaranteed for a nomination and a good bet to win it all, as is the film itself. Come to think of it, this film could see a whole bundle of Oscars noms. The original screenplay, cinematography, art direction and editing are all shoe-ins, not to mention the director and actors. I think come February you’ll start to get the picture that this is going to be an Oscar film.
A good ending is one of my favorite things to see in a movie. The Artist has a good ending. Right when the style starts to get stale, the last 10 minutes or so takes the film to that next level, into that MADE territory. It’s a fantastic finish to a very well done, original motion picture.
Will I see it again? “Avec plaisir.”
IMDB: 8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Movie Wiseguys: 8.5/10
