COMEDY/DRAMA-SILENT.
“THE ARTIST” PAYS GRAND HOMAGE TO HOLLYWOOD.
“The Artist.” (2011). Rated: PG-13. Disturbing Image and One Crude Gesture. Running Time: 100mn. Starring: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller and Uggie the Dog. Director: Michel Hazanaviciul (“Mes amis”). Black and White.
Most of the people that I talk to about “The Artist,” have not seen it yet. My hopes are that they will. It is a delightful look at days gone by and a true homage to Hollywood. People seem to get hung up on the fact that “The Artist” is a silent film and in black and white.Well, if it hadn't been for silent movies we wouldn't have talkies. If it weren't for black and white films we wouldn't have color. Trust me…you will get over it. I get this reaction from folks who say I don’t like foreign films because you have to read the subtitles.
“The Artist” is one of the most entertaining films I have ever seen and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it doesn’t win Best Picture at the Oscars. It has already merited a Golden Globe. The story is both charming and poignant and the acting is superb. This one takes facial mastery and the right looks to pull it off. That is just as difficult as it was to speak with authority when talkies came in.
One of the unique things about “The Artist” is the way it plays with your mind and eyes when it knows that you know it is both silent and black and white. The only sounds you hear is the music which is perfectly done by Ludovic Bource . I was reminded of a film back in the 50s entitled “Singin’ in the Rain” whose premise was the demise of silent films and the introduction to talkies. In that film, the great Jean Hagen played the unfortunate victim of talkies and Debbie Reynolds the fortunate recipient of the same. Gene Kelly was the guy in the middle who survived and switched over to talkies.
French actor, Jean Dujardin plays George Valentin, a super silent star who has a mouth full of shining teeth that sparkles every time he smiles, which is a lot. Dujardin looks so good that he probably could have been a silent star back in 1927, which is when the story begins. At times I could denote the William Powell look and at other times he even resembled Gene Kelly with a mustache.
Valentin gets swept under the rug when talking pictures begin to catch on. Soon he is relegated to a one room apartment in disarray with his only companion being Uggie his dog. Uggie is a dead ringer for Asta, the Thin Man’s dog in the 30s and 40sand steals every scene he is in. George has another friend that he will find thinks much more of him than he ever expected. She is the beautiful and spritely Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) who had accidentally met Valentin at a movie premiere. When she jumps out of the crowd and kisses Valentin on the cheek, the headlines in the next day's newspapers reads, "Who is this Girl?"
She gets a part in one of Valentin’s pictures and it isn’t long before she gets top billing in her own films. She is the darling of the fans and exploits a beauty mark that Valentin had penciled in himself. She has come a long way since the time when she was totally unknown and that was partly because of Valentin’s love for her.
Director Michel Hazanavicius has placed many recognizable actors in the supporting roles of “The Artist.” John Goodman, who has noticeably lost weight, plays the loud and spontaneous Al Zimmer the studio head. James Cromwell is Clifton, Valentin’s loyal chauffeur and friend. Penelope Ann Miller, who I have always thought could have played in silents, plays Doris, Valentin’s suffering wife. Then there is a brief cameo by Malcolm McDowell who plays an extra trying for an audition. They all fit perfectly.
Jean Dujardin is a well known actor in France. Approaching his 40s, Dujardin has played in the series concerning OSS 117, who is a Gallic spy doing a take on 007. Paraphrasing a statement made by Roger Ebert, he uses the line used by Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Blvd.” Regarding silent films she said, “we didn’t need voices. We had faces.” This is true of Dujardin who has the face meant for silent films. Dujardin won Best Actor at the Golden Globes last week and don’t be surprised if he doesn’t pull it off at the Oscars.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I liked this film. I would see it again in a minute. It pays tribute to Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane,” “The Thin Man,” Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and “Singin’ in the Rain” and on and on. It is spell binding with a feel of enchantment sprinkled in. It forced me to want to go home and get out my old Chaplin, Keaton and Valentino DVDs and watch them again. Don’t misss this one.
Roy’s Rating: A+
Roy Recommends: “Singin’ in the Rain”
Scene Stealer: Uggie
Personally: I love black and white and I treasure silent films. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have talkies.
