THE ARTIST: Wordless charm
The Artist may not have hit our neighborhood screens yet, but when it does, it’s well worth a look. A movie that harks back to the Hollywood golden age of silent films by being a silent film itself, however, raises a lot of questions. Read these Reel Answers to see if this movie is for you.
THE ARTIST
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
Starring Jean DuJardin, Bérénice Bejo, James Cromwell, John Goodman
What is The Artist about?
In terms of a charming ham, Miss Piggy has met her match with Jean DuJardin’s silent-film matinée idol George Valentin. Don’t want to give away too much of the plot of this slight but infectious film, but in a nutshell: as our hero Valentin fights against the arrival of talking pictures, he also fights an attraction to Peppy Miller, an up-and-coming starlet, who unfortunately embodies everything that threatens his career. The film manages to lovingly touch upon nearly every classic Hollywood genre, from heroic and romantic to comedic and melodramatic—you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll sigh. Personally, I appreciated the emphasis on the romance, since we’re in a cinematic drought of that genre right now, and surprisingly the romance depicted in this stylized film is quite affecting and believable.
Is this really a silent movie? And if so, will it keep my attention?
Yes, it really is silent. And in black & white! With in-your-face orchestra music! But even as the initial novelty wears off, you’ll have the growing realization that hey, this schtick is really well done. Its Hollywoodish twists and turns—sometimes silly, sometimes poignant—will keep you engaged and entertained throughout. And, in true Hollywood fashion, it has a socko ending.
Who made this movie?
People who love the art of cinema made this one, that’s for sure. The homage to the heyday of silent films and the stars who transitioned over to talkies is perfect, complete with jaunty/moody period music. The auteur behind this is writer/director Michel Hazanavicius, maker of two European spy spoofs (also starring his favorite ham, Jean DuJardin).
Who are the actors in The Artist?
They got two great “faces” for this film (which is good since close-ups dominate). Over the course of the movie, Jean DuJardin reminded me variously of Gene Kelly, Douglas Fairbanks, Clark Gable, Sean Connery, and George Clooney—not a bad crowd to be a part of! And the perky, leggy lead actress Bérénice Bejo will remind you of a blend of Debbie Reynolds, Rachel McAdams, and Broadway-musical superstar Sutton Foster. Add to the mix two veteran American actors known for their equally expressive faces (James Cromwell and John Goodman) and the smartest Jack Russell terrier ever filmed, and you have a great ensemble. Yes, they’re all silent—yet complex and real, and believable as types from the 1920s.
Is it jarring that this tribute to Hollywood’s heyday is in essence a foreign film?
You never even know it, except for a brief hat tip at the end. Somehow the filmmakers do a great job of recreating 1920s “Hollywoodland,” with all the palm trees, cars, and stars, so the movie couldn’t seem any more American.
Could I take my family to this movie?
First question: would they be interested in a romantic dramedy for adults? (Only you can answer that one.) Next question: why did this rather clean movie get a PG-13 rating? I can answer that one. The rating is for “a disturbing image” and “a crude gesture.” I think I know what they’re referring to in both cases and your average violent TV show or video game has a lot more of the above than this movie. Plus, did I mention the heroic dog?
Is there anything not to like about The Artist?
The movie is quite lightweight—so if you’re in the mood for a thought-provoking drama, you’d be better off checking out Melancholia or J. Edgar. Also, I overheard heard some audience members complaining about the length of the film so, for some, 100 minutes of B&W silent emoting is maybe too much of a good thing.
My Reel Answers column aims to boil down film reviewing to its essence: answering questions (without divulging key plot points) you might have about a popular movie before plunking down your hard-earned money to see it.
Please visit http://reelanswers.net to see past movies and DVDs I’ve reviewed, and let me know what questions you have about upcoming movies that I can answer.
When not watching and reviewing movies, I run a consulting business helping successful creatives ramp up their online presence via websites, ebooks, and social media at http://laura-e-kelly.com. —Laura
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.