An Amazing Homage to Old Hollywood

Rating: 9/10 (16 October 2012)

When I was in college, I tried to convince my friends to come together and do a silent, black and white short film project as a little homage and a bit of fun. I was shot down repeatedly and told that no one shared my interest in the classic style, and I'm so glad that THE ARTIST came along and proved them wrong in a big way. As I'm sure you're already aware, THE ARTIST is a silent film and presented in black and white, going so far as to include the piano music we expect with your usual silent film. THE ARTIST is a great movie and I was excited to see it garner so much attention (and a crap load of awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture). It's nice to see that a movie that could be considered the polar opposite of mainstream in any real sense would be so popular. The film is set in Hollywood in the late 20's and early 30's when silent film was at it's peak and the introduction of talking pictures was on the rise. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is cinema's top leading man, a class act with his trusty dog. Valentin is the most beloved actor of his time, but when talking pictures become the next big sensation, George finds it all a little far-fetched and decides against joining the fad. When talking pictures leave silent film in their dust, Valentin's star dims and the world obsesses with Peppy Miller, a beautiful and charismatic young dancer who made her big break as an extra in a Valentin film.
THE ARTIST is a wonderful film in a myriad of ways. It's a true homage to a style of filmmaking that's been gone for decades. Most people probably haven't even seen a silent film, and I know I've encountered a dozen or so people who won't even watch a black and white film because it's "old" or "boring". THE ARTIST and all of it's awards/attention might be enough to get people who wouldn't otherwise give a silent film their time the motivation to give it a chance. This is a beautiful film, no doubt about it. It glitters and shines like you'd expect from an old school Hollywood spectacle back when it had class. You can't help but smile as you watch the film because the characters are so charming and the fun is contagious. This is an ultimate feel-good movie, even when it reaches its darkest point. Director Michel Hazanavicius has created a glimpse into Hollywood bright and shining history. The stars, Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo (whom I didn't even recognize as the lady-in- waiting from A KNIGHT'S TALEman, she's come a long way), are fantastic. Dujardin is charismatic and fun, you are drawn into his struggle when he becomes Hollywood's old news. Silent films are out, and Valentin is too stubborn and set in his ways to change. His replacement, Peppy Miller (Bejo) is everything you'd want in a Hollywood starlet. She's beautiful, perpetually happy, with big eyes and an infectious smile. Plus, she's got talent. She quickly rises through the ranks to the top of the movie scene, where a dejected Valentin can only watch with regret.
While THE ARTIST is a pretty amazing movie, it's not without a few minor flaws. Really, my only complaint with the film was that it did feel its lengths at times. Towards the middle of the film when Valentin's downward slide is nearing it's conclusion and the stage is being set for his eventual revival, it feels a little long but not unbearable. You just become eager to see the next phase of his struggle. And one minor, albeit aggravating complaint, on my part: why is Malcolm McDowell given billing on the home video and marketing materials when he is literally in the movie for a minute? Seriously, I was excited at the prospect of McDowell in the film but he has a brief cameo assupposedly a butlerI'm not sure. He's just sort of sitting in on an extra's casting session. He's there and then he's gone. Still, the movie boasts an impressive supporting cast with James Cromwell and John Goodman, both putting in great performances. There is a lot to love about this film and I'm sure it deserves plenty of recognition but I'm sure that there are some out there that will say it's only being held in high regard because it's the first silent film in years and it panders to old Hollywood. That might be the case, but I couldn't care less as it's a really enjoyable film.