Movie Review: The Artist

In a year filled with films that seemingly rest on nostalgia for “the good old days,” the old timey silent movie trappings of The Artist feels revelatory in comparison. Through its use of an outdated form of cinema, the film tells a thoroughly original story in a fresh way. It serves as a true love letter to old Hollywood, devoid of any sort of cynicism and snark and brimming with important things to say about modern cinema.

In 1927 at the height of his career as a silent film actor, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) scoffs at the notion that sound (other than music from theorchestra pit) will ever catch on in motion pictures. Resistant to change, the overly prideful George watches his star plummet over his steadfast refusal to talk, while a former silent dancer he helped discover on accident named Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) becomes a superstar. Slowly, thanks to thedeclining US economy and the disastrous reception to a self financed passion project, George begins to lose everything thanks to his stubborn nature.

Director Michael Hazanavicius has created one of the most rightfully lauded films of the year out of a fairly slight story. Shooting entirely in full framed black and white and directing actors to use the corny and overly emotive style of acting used in the days of the silents might seem like a risky move, butthe story probably wouldn’t have had the same visceral impact any other way. It’s a film meant to feel of its time.

With the look of the late 20s and early 30s intact, it’s interesting to note just how well the story of George’s rise and fall parallels that of modern pop culture icons. George can not adapt and therefore can’t survive. While fame is something George can handle, sound is something that he simply can’t cope with. Think of the teen matinee idols who never went anywhere after their heyday or action stars who simply got too old. Much like those archetypes, George has simply outlived his usefulness to employers. In this more reality based economic climate, the industry creates people like George on a daily basis. People who think they are irreplaceable that will hold a great deal of contempt and bitterness when they find out they’re human after all.

Valentin and Bejo play both ends of the spectrum quite well, but Bejo might have the more interesting role as Peppy, who seems to embrace and repel celebrity depending on who happens to be watching her at the time. She’s smart enough to play the Hollywood game of lying to people’s face, but still too naïve and caring to give up on her friendship with George. Valentin contrasts nicely in the lead as the exact opposite; a man who knows far too well what Hollywood can do, but is too stubborn to think it could ever happen to him. Key supporting performances from John Goodman, as a studio head, and James Cromwell, as George’s kindly personal assistant, round out the cast splendidly.

As with any silent film, the musical score is the key to driving the story, and composer Ludovic Bource has crafted a note perfect assembly of pieces old and new. It would also be a bit of a misnomer to say that the film is traditionally 100% silent as several sequences use simple sound effects to convey emotion and despair. Silent purists might see that as a bit of a cop out, but within the narrative structure of the film it makes perfect sense.

The Artist harkens back to a time of simple stories told well with an economics of words and a wealth of emotions. This is a charming film with good will to spare; one of the best gifts a cinema buff could hope for this holiday season.

Rating:  

Rated PG
Cast: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman
Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius

Top image: A scene from The Artist. Courtesy Alliance Films.