What you get with a silent ode to the silent era of Hollywood.

Rating: 9/10 (11 February 2013)

I finally got around to see this French production of a modern silent movie. It's a visual treat of old-fashioned, black and white cinematography in a picture perfect Hollywood setting.
There, we see an aging, Douglas Fairbanks look-alike star, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) who is unable to transition from the silent era to talkies after 1930 and who gradually fades from the scene, literally and figuratively. On the way down and out, he meets an aspiring, vivacious young actress, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) who makes it big, especially when the industry moves to sound. The fairly conventional plot then takes the viewer for a ride through the ups, according to Peppy, and downs, according to George, of Tinsel Town.
Along the way, we are hugely entertained by an Oscar worthy dog (George's constant companion), extravagant costuming, great music to accompany the silent movie, a bevy of well-known Hollywood actors, excellent acting and proof, once again, that a movie is always visual art, first and foremost.
Jean Dujardin is superb - a perfect portrayal of a silent screen star. He's so good, it defies adequate description. His co-star, Berenice Bejo matches his performance, but is always overshadowed when together – except perhaps in the dancing scenes. There's a good balance between comedy and melodrama, with most of the former provided by Uggie, the dog.
Blending it all together under the direction by Michel Hazanavicius, the result is a cinematic experience that will probably never be repeated equally well, if at all. Sure, the story is ordinary, but structure, montage and mise-en-scene make this movie extraordinary – almost to the point that one feels transported back in time. That's entertainment, folks, and not to be missed, even if you've never seen a silent movie.
No movie is perfect, but this one deserves nine out of ten. Recommended for all.
February 12, 2013