Charming!

Rating: 8/10 (30 December 2011)

"The Artist" is a must-see for film fans. General audiences looking for a charming, unconventional film with a charismatic star, deeply romantic moments, and perhaps the cutest movie dog ever will enjoy it as well.
"The Artist" is a black-and-white, silent film about George Valentin, a star whose career sinks when talking pictures arrive. It's an homage to Hollywood movies, but it's also a good movie in its own right. Film fans will pick up references to other films: plot points from "Singing in the Rain" and "A Star is Born," snips of music from "Vertigo," a reference or two to "Citizen Kane."
Jean Dujardin gives one of the most charismatic film performances ever as Valentin. He is accompanied by Uggie, an utterly adorable Jack Russell terrier. Fans are now campaigning for Uggie to receive a special Academy Award.
The love story between Valentin and up-and-coming starlet Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) is told without words or sound, and yet the silent telling is masterful, poignant, and articulate. "The coat scene" will become a classic. The scene where Valentin and Peppy must dance with each other on the set of a film called "A German Affair" tells the viewer everything you need to know about this love story without speaking a single word. Bejo is a beautifully quiet counterpart to Dujardin's more showy performance.
The movie has fun with signs. When Miller does something kind for Valentin, there is a movie poster in the background. The name of the film: "Guardian Angel." Ludovic Bource's score is lush and diverse. He quotes from classic film scores and is inspired by a variety of early twentieth century popular music.
The plot is a bit thin. The film hammers home how low Valentin sinks after talking pictures push him out of the spotlight. At least one of these many scenes could have been edited out (I vote for the scene where Valentin fights with a miniature version of himself.) More backstory could have been introduced for other characters. What on earth happened to Valentin's marriage? How did he and his wife ever end up together? How did the introduction of sound affect John Goodman and Malcolm McDowell, who are woefully underused? Otherwise, though, this film is delightful, and it will be much loved.