A Real Valentine to the Movies

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2011)

Without the need of 3D, its beauty and its power will jump at you. Set in the 1920's and early 1930s, "The Artist" shows without unnecessary complications how movies became a part of our lives. George Valentin is one of the icons who rule the world of cinema in silent pictures. He is adored by fans, and he knows it. What he doesn't expect is that times are changing, and he should at least be cognizant of it.
Soon, the world is different, and George must face the hardships the market crash, poor foresight, and the arrival of sound in cinema place on him. The film gives us an entertaining look at Hollywood, as silent films are played inside a silent film, and all the drama surrounding the production of such films, the effects on the personal lives of actors, and most importantly, the powerful cultural forces that films are.
For a century now, they have become part of our lives, and actors like Valentin and Miller are stand-in's for figures like Garfield, Garbo, Swanson, and some of the stars who faded or managed to survive. The personal tragedy of Valentine is a love letter to the joys movies give us. Playing like a silent film, the film and his performance are a joy to watch. Every gesture reminds us that every look resonated on the big screen, and how important a well written screenplay has always been. Yes, the actors might have mugged the camera in more than one occasion, but there was a pure force up there, beyond special effects, and the influence of research and marketing. We have always gone to the films to be entertained, to see our stories up there.
"The Artist" tells a universal story: the way people live, love, survive, make mistakes, learn, and move on. Valentin has to deal with a series of obstacles, and what's outstanding is that he makes every second of this film rich and touching. Dujardin, the actor, could have been a silent movie star. He proves it with his performance, and he shows what a marvelous actor really is now, as he is able to tell a story with his face, with his eyes, with physical dexterity. All of this is accomplished with the assistance of a great director who respects and loves the films that inspired him. One is able to see the various tributes throughout the film. This film flows and has a strong real heartbeat from its first frame, and its exuberant conclusion is a sweet testament that there is still hope for us, movie lovers. Here is a movie that should be playing in real movie theaters and not be treated as if it belongs in a museum. Ironically, unlike the other tribute released this year, so dependent on the themes of time, I never looked at my watch this time because I didn't want this gem to end.
Forget color, 3D technology, crazy camera moves, get in line and prepare yourself for a rare and truly satisfying experience, a movie that will help you relive and understand what an amazing time one can have at the movie. I wanted to see this film again after it ended, and I'm sure most of us will probably see it over and over.