MOVIE REVIEW ... THE ARTIST

 

There’s a certain irony in watching ‘The Artist’.  Where films initially had the gimmicks of moving pictures, sound and colour, ‘The Artist’ retreats to where it all began.  Using silence as its selling point it harks back to a period where audiences genuinely had to engage with on-screen occurrences.  In some ways talkies diluted cinema’s story-telling power as the dialogue spelt out what previously the viewer had to deduce.   An ode to the type of movies from which the industry originated, ‘The Artist’ is a fine evocation of a classic cinematic era.

George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a huge star of silent films.  Promoting his latest production, he bumps into Peppy (Berenice Bejo) an admirer.  Struck by her beauty, he determines to make her a star, much to the chagrin of studio boss Al Zimmer (John Goodman).  Climbing the ladder of success with the advent of talkies, the tribulations Peppy and Valentine face test their passion for the medium from which they derive the most artistic satisfaction.

Not since Rolf De Heer’s 2007 film ‘Dr. Plonk’ has a silent movie generated so much publicity.  As with that earlier piece, ‘The Artist’ has been made by film-makers genuinely transfixed with this bygone genre.  A purely image-driven format relied on the stirring music and facial expressions of the performers to tell stories.  Not an easy task as ‘The Artist’ shows although done skilfully.  Mixing humour, pathos, drama and dance all in one beguiling package it’s a great valentine to cinema’s heritage.

Director Michel Hazanavicius expertly captures the feel of the 1920’s setting and its social mores.  He also teases out the characteristics of the main leads extremely well – a very difficult task given the film’s nature.  Dujardin and Bejo make for fine leads with Goodman and James Cromwell as Valentin’s servant providing able support. Although the running time is a little too long, it maintains its charm until the final dazzling reel.

Crafting a film full of vigour and enchanting personalities in a silent black and white film is no mean feat.  That ‘The Artist’ does so is a testament to the craftsmanship of all involved in this amiable slice of nostalgia.

Movie Review Rating  8 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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