A shining example of creative art and love for cinema!

Rating: 8/10 (4 February 2012)

'THE ARTIST': Four Stars (Out of Five)
2011's 'Best Picture' Oscar front-runner (as well as 9 other nominations) and the most critically acclaimed movie of the year is this black-and-white silent film! It stars 'Best Actor' Academy Award nominee Jean Dujardin and 'Best Supporting Actress' nominee Berenice Bejo. The film was written and directed by Berenice's husband, 'Best Director' and 'Best Original Screenplay nominee, Michel Hazanavicius. I didn't find the film to be quite as good as all the awards and critical acclaim it's received but it's definitely a very unique and original film going experience.
The film is set in 1927 Hollywood during the last great days of silent film. It focuses on one of the biggest stars of that era: (the fictional) George Valentin (Dujardin). Valentin feels his marriage, sanity and everything else he holds near and dear fall apart when he starts to become a fading star from a bygone era due to the arrival of talking films. A young rising starlet named Peppy Miller (Bejo), that he helped give a career boost to, fondly watches over him though as he continues to drift into destitution and madness.
The movie is a shining example of creative art and love for cinema, in that way I definitely admire it. It's also an honest story of self-indulgence, excessive pride and depression. Not the uplifting romance some people might be expecting but a quality drama nonetheless. The directing, art design, cinematography and acting are all exceptional. Is it the best film of the year? Not by a long shot, especially when movies like 'WARRIOR' are out there, but a very good film all the same.
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