The Artist (2011) - Sit Back and Enjoy the Silence...Or We Can't Be Friends Anymore!

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2012)

No, you probably don't know the lead actors. Also, the whole movie is in black and white, and there's hardly any dialogue. But I beg you, give this movie a chance, or I just flat out don't want to see you anymore! With early Oscar buzz and highly acclaimed reviews, "The Artist" is a black-and-white silent movie about a silent movie star, and his fall from fame. Now, out of all the movies in 2011, "The Artist" is one of the most hilarious, enjoying, and breathtaking movie-going experiences of this or any other year. Jean Dujardin totally deserves a Best Actor win, stealing the whole show for his work as George Valentin, a silent movie actor during the 1920s silent era of Hollywood, with his trusted companion, a hilarious puppy. Seriously, that dog has his best laughs in the entire film, and he's one of the best animal actors ever seen on screen. Then, he meets the gorgeous Berenice Bejo as Peppy Miller, a big fan who soon takes over Hollywood by storm, leaving George on the far sidelines. James Cromwell is also really brilliant as George's ever-loyal valet who is always there for George, even in his tightest situations. John Goodman is awesome as the studio boss, who tells George that "talkies" are going to take over the new future of cinema. With the talkies being introduced, and the silent movies are disappearing, George's career disappears as well, and loses all his popularity rapidly. All I need to say is that I've never had this much fun watching a movie in a long, long time. I enjoyed every single moment in this movie, from beginning to end. This is a unique and different movie-going experience, and it felt like watching a film in the 1920s. The casting ensemble is breathtakingly brilliant, and they didn't need to say anything. I was blown away by the sight of this movie. The addition of using the black-and-white detail, and the silent movie style is super unique. The cinematography is amazing, the editing is super, the music is beautiful, and the acting really carries the movie. Written and directed brilliantly by Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist" is a beautifully well-made motion picture that teaches about the age of motion pictures, the changes that new technology will make, and how some fame can go away, just like that! So, bravo to the people that made "The Artist". This is one of the best movies ever made, and I hope that this is the Best Picture winner of 2011. "The Artist", in my review, "a visualizing and enchanting motion picture experience".