Director: Michel HazanaviciusWriter: Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo
Release Date: December 9, 2011
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes
French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius does the unthinkable and goes back to the bare seeds of filmmaking, where cinema first began with the sincerely courageous, The Artist. This is the first time a silent film has been mass-released in quite a while and my, does this make up for the time without a film as ingenious and clever as The Artist to remind us of how lovable subtlety in movies can be.
Set in the prestige age of 1920s Hollywood, the film tells the story of an actor at the top of his game, George Valentin, who could be a fictional version of Douglas Fairbanks or a 1927 equivalent of George Clooney. Valentin has a chance encounter with an up and coming beauty named Peppy Miller, who starts to make her way up the Hollywood ladder after having a small role in one of his films, A German Affair. Two years later, while Peppy is reaching her prime, studio head Al Zimmer (John Goodman) announces the end of silent film productions at Kinograph Studios, due to the rising popularity with the “talkies”. Nevertheless, Valentin believes films with sound is only a fad, so he decides to make his own silent film, assuming people will see the movie, still loving him as Hollywood’s leading man. However, as Peppy becomes Hollywood’s “It Girl” with a starring role in the film everyone’s talking about, Beauty Spot, Valentin’s worst nightmare comes true. The world stops caring about the silent film era and therefore Valentin as well, but Peppy wont leave her greatest idol in the dust.
You will simply never have a more unique enjoyable experience watching a movie than when watching The Artist. Hazanivicius carries two important qualities in the making of this film, boldness and imagination. It is such an original and commendable idea to bring back the golden age of movies through an actual silent film but being the actual one to do it makes Hazanavicius praiseworthy enough for stepping up to the plate. There are obvious challenges and restrictions when it comes to making a silent film however, to Hazanivicius they are only ways to express his ingenuity, which make this film all the more lovable. With every frame, you see his love and enthusiasm for films of the now timeless era, and consequently find yourself falling in love with the style of filmmaking, whether you initially liked the style or not.
His comedic and moving story makes you deeply connected to the stubborn and then pitiable Valentin, beautifully brought to life by the talented French actor Jean Dujardin. With his ever-entrancing moustache and handsome face, Dujardin carries the incredibly fragile film on his shoulders. Many people will have apprehension about seeing this film, but with Dujardin’s undying charisma and simultaneous weight in his character, you will be easily transported back to the era that once seemed so unfamiliar. Hazanvicius’ wife Berenice Bejo is impressively charming as rising star Peppy Miller as well, while John Goodman and James Cromwell also show off their acting skills in the different light of silent film.
All the ardor and hard work given by the actors, producers and Hazanavicius is evident in each scene and gives off the same rewarding feeling last year’s Best Picture winner, The King’s Speech gave off. Realizing you have just fallen in love with the film, you just want to hug it when it’s over. The Artist is extremely clever, but it is also a poignant love story that warms your heart like nothing else. As an original masterwork, The Artist is a winner that cannot be missed.
Set in the prestige age of 1920s Hollywood, the film tells the story of an actor at the top of his game, George Valentin, who could be a fictional version of Douglas Fairbanks or a 1927 equivalent of George Clooney. Valentin has a chance encounter with an up and coming beauty named Peppy Miller, who starts to make her way up the Hollywood ladder after having a small role in one of his films, A German Affair. Two years later, while Peppy is reaching her prime, studio head Al Zimmer (John Goodman) announces the end of silent film productions at Kinograph Studios, due to the rising popularity with the “talkies”. Nevertheless, Valentin believes films with sound is only a fad, so he decides to make his own silent film, assuming people will see the movie, still loving him as Hollywood’s leading man. However, as Peppy becomes Hollywood’s “It Girl” with a starring role in the film everyone’s talking about, Beauty Spot, Valentin’s worst nightmare comes true. The world stops caring about the silent film era and therefore Valentin as well, but Peppy wont leave her greatest idol in the dust.
You will simply never have a more unique enjoyable experience watching a movie than when watching The Artist. Hazanivicius carries two important qualities in the making of this film, boldness and imagination. It is such an original and commendable idea to bring back the golden age of movies through an actual silent film but being the actual one to do it makes Hazanavicius praiseworthy enough for stepping up to the plate. There are obvious challenges and restrictions when it comes to making a silent film however, to Hazanivicius they are only ways to express his ingenuity, which make this film all the more lovable. With every frame, you see his love and enthusiasm for films of the now timeless era, and consequently find yourself falling in love with the style of filmmaking, whether you initially liked the style or not.
His comedic and moving story makes you deeply connected to the stubborn and then pitiable Valentin, beautifully brought to life by the talented French actor Jean Dujardin. With his ever-entrancing moustache and handsome face, Dujardin carries the incredibly fragile film on his shoulders. Many people will have apprehension about seeing this film, but with Dujardin’s undying charisma and simultaneous weight in his character, you will be easily transported back to the era that once seemed so unfamiliar. Hazanvicius’ wife Berenice Bejo is impressively charming as rising star Peppy Miller as well, while John Goodman and James Cromwell also show off their acting skills in the different light of silent film.
All the ardor and hard work given by the actors, producers and Hazanavicius is evident in each scene and gives off the same rewarding feeling last year’s Best Picture winner, The King’s Speech gave off. Realizing you have just fallen in love with the film, you just want to hug it when it’s over. The Artist is extremely clever, but it is also a poignant love story that warms your heart like nothing else. As an original masterwork, The Artist is a winner that cannot be missed.
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