So much fun

Rating: 8/10 (12 February 2012)

I confess that I'm a sucker for films about filmmaking; I love them in every form, shape and color. As a result I probably would have liked The Artist no matter what. It's a good movie by any measure, though; a beautiful homage to the Hollywood of the 20's, made with incredible amounts of love and respect. The black and white cinematography is perfectly gorgeous; it echoes the style of the 20's but with a more sensitive modern touch that makes every shot a work of art. Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo both deliver wonderful performances; Dujardin in particular was clearly born to act in silent films. James Cromwell is also terrific, even if some of the others, like John Goodman, don't fit in as well. The Artist is entertaining, funny and also quite touching, Dujardin delivering huge amounts of emotion without talking.
It's not a masterpiece, though, nor is it the best movie of the year. The basic premise was explored long ago in Singing in the Rain, and The Artist doesn't have the same kind of timeless staying power; nor does it have the cynical wit of Mel Brooks' Silent Movie. The Artist is first and foremost a homage and a call-back, and it could have easily have gone for a completely different plot. It works for what it is; some clever things are done with the format, especially the first dream sequence. But in its basis it remains not much more than a very good silent movie, lots of fun for cinephiles and film history lovers - actually, scratch that: it's lots of fun for everyone.