A Vintage Tour That Guarantees To Put A Smile On Every Cinema Lover's Face.

Rating: Null/10 (9 August 2013)

Winner of 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture, The Artist is an awe-inspiring ode to the silent era of cinema and is filmed with such fine elegance & precision artistry that it was too difficult for me to wipe the smile off my face while watching it. An enthralling work of indelible charm, every frame of this silent feature pays its tribute in the most respectful manner possible but also succeeds in carving out its very own identity in the process.
Set in Hollywood during the years when talkies were being introduced into cinema, The Artist focuses on the relationship between a major silent film star & an aspiring young actress who bump into each other during the premiere of the former's latest film. But when their production house decides to do away with silent films & usher in the new era of sound, the career of these two actors turns upside down as one heads for ruin, while other rises to stardom.
Written & directed by Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist opens in the same manner like films of that era used to & it even feels like you're watching a feature from that golden period. Paying attention to the smallest of details, it's an intriguing look at how production was carried out in those days, and if the excellence in the production design wasn't enough, its two lead actors manage to take it to a whole new level with their expressive & energetic performances.
Coming to the technical aspects, cinematography captures the whole picture in the same aspect ratio & frame rate as was standard in 1920s, black-n-white photography has a vintage feel to it, the first half of the film is exquisitely paced while the second half stumbles a little but makes a sharp return in its final moments to culminate on a high with a memorable final shot, and Ludovic Bource's background score wonderfully captures the era this story is set in.
As far as performances go, both Jean Dujardin & Bérénice Bejo are a revelation in their respective roles of silent film star, George Valentin & aspiring actress, Peppy Miller. With no words to speak on camera plus complete reliance on body language & facial expressions, the two actors make their characters work stunningly well & even share a sizzling chemistry together. Of the two leads however, I liked Bejo's work much more than Dujardin's.
On an overall scale, succeeding not only as a marvellous silent film but also a heartfelt drama with romance at its heart & nostalgia written all over it, The Artist is a skilfully executed cinematic feat from a passionate filmmaker who admires the beauty & art of a bygone era, and is a triumph in all filmmaking departments. Definitely one of the best films of its year & absolutely deserving of all its accolades, The Artist comes as a must for every cinema lover out there.