A pleasure to watch

Rating: 9/10 (23 July 2012)

"The Artist" is most likely the first silent film for many Americans. I have seen the works of Charlie Chaplin as well as Mel Brooks's "Silent Movie," and they are very entertaining films. What helps "The Artist" excel so well is its nostalgic look of old movies. The sets, costumes, cinematography, music, opening titles, special effects, and even visual humor takes me back to Chaplin's "City Lights." The magic that director Michel Hazanvicius creates for this movie is not limited to its visual style. The plot is very original—a silent film star reaches the top of his game only to be replaced by talkies and new faces. Many silent actors faced this and fell into oblivion. In Hazanvicius's world, George Valentine is such a person. His downward spiral is filmed in such a unique way that it is both dark and mystical. In one particular scene, George sits in a bar, in a drunken stupor. He begins to hallucinate and sees a miniature version of himself on the bar table, jeering at him for his failures. Other grim scenes like these are mesmerizing to watch.
Though there are dark moments in this film, it is generally a light-hearted flick—I had a smile on my face for the majority of the movie. The performances by Jean Dujardin as George Valentine and Bernice Bejo as Peppy Miller range from over the top to subtle. Whenever they are on-screen together, it is easy to tell that they adore one another. As the audience, we too enjoy their presence. It is particularly interesting that there is a romance between the two, yet they never kiss or make love—Hazanvicius avoids this typical plot device that is seen in almost every romance flick, and it is a nice break. Dujardin and Bejo aren't the only ones who steal the show. The great supporting cast is made up of John Goodman, James Cromwell, and Uggio, as Valentine's dog. Uggio, in particular, has his comic moments.
Probably the biggest advantage for "The Artist" is the music. It is such a great soundtrack that it emphasizes the mood on the screen to perfection. When George Valentine is at the top of his game, the music is uplifting with a kind of "doinky-doinky" sound. As Valentine deteriorates, it grows bombastic and ominous.
Though a very well-crafted film, "The Artist" has problems. Some subplots involving the characters are not resolved or further explained. There is also the tendency that there are lengthy discussions between characters without any title cards. This became very annoying, for I began to focus on trying to read the lips of the actors rather than view the movie. It would have been more appropriate for the editors to either cut these scenes down or add more cards. To say that "The Artist" is a better film than any of Chaplin's works is sacrilegious. But to say that this film is overrated and uneventful is far from true. Winning five Academy Awards and earning over $45 million in limited release alone is a well-earned achievement.