A Well-Made Silent Film!

Rating: 7/10 (29 January 2012)

'The Artist' is A Well-Made Silent Film in all respects. Writer-Director Michel Hazanavicius's look back to the glorious days of film-making, seen through the eyes of it's protagonist, comes across as a brave attempt.
'The Artist' Synopsis: In Hollywood, 1927, As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.
'The Artist' has gained unanimous critical acclaim as well as numerous awards. However, I do feel, that despite true merits, the reason why 'The Artist' works primarily, is because it's a Silent Film, rather than it being a Path-Breaking film.
Michel Hazanavicius's Screenplay is brave & well-done, but in the second-hour, it falls into the clichés, that are honestly speaking, beaten to death. The entire Journey of it's Protagonist's ups & downs, doesn't offer any novelty. I truly feel, that the Screenplay could've been stronger in the second-hour.
Michel Hazanavicius's Direction, on the other-hand, is beautiful. Here's a storyteller who had the guts to make a Silent film, in an era where Silent films are extinct. His vision, though clichéd after a point, deserves brownie points nonetheless.
Cinematogrpahy by Guillaume Schiffman, is stunning. Editing by Anne-Sophie Bion & Michel Hazanavicius himself, is decent. Art & Coustume Design, are great. Music by Ludovic Bource is good.
Performance-Wise: Jean Dujardin as George Valentin, delivers a performance that is very-well maintained. He doesn't make George Valentin a caricature, which is the best aspect of his performance. Bérénice Bejo as Peppy Miller, is very charming. Uggie, The Dog, is lovable. John Goodman plays a filmmaker of the 20's with superb energy. James Cromwell is adequate. Penelope Ann Miller does well.
On the whole, Even though it does, I'm not going to dare to call 'The Artist' a disappointment.