Customer Reviews

The Artist (Bilingual) [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This clever take on the silent era is a valentine (note the titular character's name) to Old Hollywood and especially to lovers of classic movies. Unknown French director Michel Hazanavicius, who also wrote the screenplay, wanted to take on the challange of making a silent film, complete with black & white photography & title cards, in the 21st century. To say that he succeeded (whether you like the film or not) cannot be denied.

The movie opens in 1927 Hollywood. Silent superstar George Valentin (a combination of Douglas Fairbanks Sr & John Gilbert & played by French actor Jean Dujardin) is about to be caught up in the transition to sound. While he is dealing with this crisis, young extra Peppy Miller (a cross between the young Joan Crawford, Clara Bow, & Gloria Swanson & winningly played by Berenice Bejo who just happens to be the director's wife) makes the transition to sound and is on her way up. The parallel to A STAR IS BORN is obvious along with several other references to classic films such as CITIZEN KANE (the breakfast scene), SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (the sound test), & THE THIN MAN (the dog). For the end sequence, pick the Astaire-Rogers musical of your choice.

Along with the French performers, two American character actors are given prominent roles in the proceedings. John Goodman plays the classic Hollywood studio head complete with fat cigar while James Cromwell is George's loyal chauffeur (a reference to SUNSET BOULEVARD). Both adapt themselves well to the silent medium. While there are several references to other classic Hollywood films, THE ARTIST is more than just a simple homage. It's also the heartwarming story of two people headed in different directions with some lightweight comedy thrown in & one classic scene between Berenice Bejo & an empty coat.

Despite all the critical praise, THE ARTIST does have some issues from my perspective as an instructor on silent movies. Most of them are visual and won't be noticed by the casual filmgoer. The number one problem is with the lighting. Most silent films have a much more varied contrast between light & shadow (even the comedies of Chaplin, Keaton & Lloyd) but then silent films weren't shot in color on modern equipment and then turned into black & white. This also gives the film a rather flat look on occasion which becomes somewhat boring after awhile. I would have liked to see the lighting and photography change as the time frame moved from the silent to the sound era.

But this is scholarly nitpicking. I was delighted at how well THE ARTIST captures the spirit of the era although that era is much more the early 1930s than the late 1920s. I am even more delighted that it's reaching a mainstream audience who are now discovering the world of the silent cinema for the first time. In interviews director Hazanavicius said that that is what he hoped his "little film" would do, which it has. Silent films are not for everyone and never will be but they are a valid art form as different from sound films as ballet is from opera. For opening the door to a wider appreciation of the films of the distant past, THE ARTIST deserves its accolades.

A lot of people did not like this movie because they weren't sure about what they were going in for. Now that this highly critically acclaimed movie has won Oscars, folks like me have given it another chance. This film in of itself is a period peice and a look at the silent film era of entertainment, done in the style of an (almost completely) silent film. If people knew it was a silent film prior to seeing it, I think they would be prepared and enjoy it like I did.
Watching and liking a movie is all about context. If you know you are about to see a comic book movie, your expectations on realism versus fantasy will be attuned to what you are about to see, and you will appreciate it for what it is. This is a fantastic movie about the powerful role of the actor, and the body language they use to convey emotions and tell a story without sound effects, only subtitles; as was the way before the 'talkies' came out. The story is of a proud silent screen actor who stubbornly refuses to get on board with the new sound added movies, and struggles with this while his biggest fans and friends do whatever they can to keep him relevant. This is a crossroads piece. Like the locomotive and motor car replacing the horse, or video killing the radio star...

I liked ,"The Artist" , The actors were very suited for this movie and the dog stole the show! :)
The motif of scene within scene was well done and added to the old time scenes. I didn't miss colour at all.
I was disappointed with the ending as the Artist's voice didn't come across as well as it did in the theatre.
The silent movies have a beauty all their own and this one was no exception.

dance scenes are amazing. the missing dialogue add to the picture and the music is phenomenal, i have watch the the artist at least a dozen times since purchase,at 84 years it is right up there with "gone with the wind" as entertainment value. freddy

I decided to watch The Artist for two reasons: 1) the overwhelmingly positive reviews and 2) because I'd seen its star, Jean Dujardin, in Lucky Luke and enjoyed his understated charisma and humour.

I didn't know much about the film before seeing it, but as it turns out, the plot isn't all that complex. A silent film star (George Valentin, played by Dujardin) is losing appeal because of the emergence of talkies. An unknown but ambitious actress, Peppy Miller (played by the director's wife, Bérénice Bejo), is a big fan of Valentin's and benefits from his mentorship early in her career, only to supplant him as the biggest star in Hollywood. The film details their early friendship; Valentin's fall into destitution as he fails to adapt to the changing landscape of film; and Miller's rise to fame, which is tempered by her guilt about being somewhat responsible for her idol's failing fortunes. The climax and resolution are tediously predictable.

As I said, the plot really isn't the film's strong point. Instead, it's the acting of the headliners, Dujardin and Bejo (John Goodman, who plays Valentin's boss, is fantastic as always). They come across as sympathetic and dynamic, and they manage to convey their thoughts and emotions very well without dialogue. They carry an otherwise sweet-bordering-on-saccharine/original-in-format-but-little-else film on their charming backs.

This film will not challenge you, unless you're a silent film aficionado who will enjoy nitpicking how it compares to its authentic progenitors. Otherwise, be prepared for a mostly enchanting, mostly well-acted whimsical movie...which is mostly devoid of any substantial conflict, suspense, intellectual stimulation, or take-home message.

Bonus points are granted for the dog, Jack, who is played by Uggie. He won a Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, which was richly deserved.

It's not often that I go to see a movie twice, but here is a brave, unusual movie that takes huge risks with the audience, and explores the dominant theme of this years Oscars, nostalgia for the old Hollywood, and movies about movies.

Woody Allens Midnight in Paris cleverly explores the idea that we always yearn to live that golden period when all our heroes were alive, and introduces real characters from that period. Hugo, explores the world of a genius of the silent screen, with parallels between life and art in the movie.

My week with Marilym, unfortunately not nominated for Best Picture, receiving two acting nominations, explores a movie within a movie with two actors delivering amazing performances. The Descendants starring George Clooney, set in Hawaii explores the past in a most charming way in terms of now to show how to be responsible for the legacy of the past while dealing with a major family drama.

The Artist explores the ideas of love, stardom, and hubris set in the silent screen era of the 1920s, and received 10 Academy nominations including all the biggies, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Music. Recently it swept the British BAFTA awards winning 7 awards including Best Picture, Director, Actor. Cinematography, Music and Screenplay.

Jean Dujardin looking like a young Sean Connery, plays an aging silent screen star. As the movie begins he plays a character within a movie that refuses to talk. Soon life will mirror art. Sometimes it's difficult to tell then apart.

He accidentally bumps into an adorable young woman, Peppy Miller, an endearing ingenue who hopes to hit the big time. Soon they will accidentally meet again. I loved the impromptu dance sequence. They work together in a movie. I loved the mutiple take dance sequence. The attraction is undeniable. He gives her a beauty spot, and advice, advice which she follows to his detriment.

As the times change from silent to talk, George suffers. Soon his star falls as Peppy rises to fame and, the old guard gives way to a new generation, and pride can become an obstruction to love. It makes you wonder if these two star crossed lovers will ever work it out, and find an opportunity to love each other regardless of personal circumstance.

The Artist is a silent conversation about love, and who needs extensive conversation when you have two such photogenic and charismatic actors who can move us with with the crinkle of an eyebrow, or a few dance steps, whether that eyebrow expresses consternation, woe, and even occasionally joy.

Undoubtedly The Artist is the most adorable movie of the year, and it did take a huge risk in daring to be a silent movie in a talking world. Happily, it is of such a high quality that is has been nominated for everything. It's main competition appears to be The Descendants. Both Clooney and Dujardin are charming and charismatic.

Argentinian actress Berenice Bejo who plays Peppy has two children with Director Michel Hazanavicius. All three have previously worked together in the movie, Oss 117: Le Caire nid d'espions a James Bond spoof in French with subtitles, which shows that Dujardin is a comic genius. If you have loved the Artist which I think you will, I highly recommend you check it out, because it's really good.

Although it spoofs James Bond the series of OSS117 books written by Jean Bruce (JB) precede the first Bond book written by Ian Fleming by four years. You can watch a trailer at OSS117movie. Subtitled.

Post award update. The Artist won five Oscars. In addition to the biggies, Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor in a leading role, it also won for Best Original score, and Best Costume Design.

I think you will enjoy it, and I hope this review was helpful.

Ce film est une réussite totale, un petit bijou : histoire, musique, acteurs (dont fait partie Uggy le petit chien surdoué), tout est beau, tout est convaincant et émouvant, drôle et tragique...Et sans besoin d'être parlant ce merveilleux petit film utilise la gestuelle parfaitement maîtrisée des acteurs et cela suffit pour nous émouvoir tout en pudeur, en élégance, en subtilités et aussi grâce à de délicieux moments d'humour et à la magie de l'image en noir et blanc... Bravo pour la performance de Jean Dujardin (prodigieux) et de Bérénice Bejo ! Il est regrettable que cette dernière n'ait pas été récompensée, elle le méritait largement!
Sympathiques clins d'œil au cinéma muet et aux acteurs de cette époque magique.. Ce n'est pas du plagiat et cela ne relève pas de la prétention d'égaler les grands maîtres du genre et des grands danseurs, c'est au contraire un bel hommage qui leur est rendu là, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds (Singing in the rain) Douglas Fairbanks(The Mark of Zorro) etc...grâce au talent des acteurs et à celui du metteur en scène qui a eu cette belle idée de tourner un film muet en noir et blanc, démarche inattendue, surprenante, complètement à contre courant de la mode.
Un film français accueilli avec enthousiasme partout en Amérique (les spectateurs applaudissent dans les salles de cinéma !) déjà deux fois récompensé à Hollywood, maintenant en route pour les oscars...
Encore bravo !

Sometimes I believe a picture gets on a roll. If the right people say they like it awards come and then lots of people spend money on it.

So much to explore, The video is amazing I have all the disks to explore beyond the DVD. I make a fun representation of the History of Black and White.

As the story opens, it is 1929, and we meet George Valentin, a dashing matinée idol who thrills his fans with his silent movies. He meets a star-struck young lady named Peppy and helps her get into show business as a extra. Soon, she's rising to super-stardom, while George's star begins to fade.

This is a gimmick movie; a silent, black and white homage to silent and early talkies. The actors mug and ham it up throughout the film, the story is sweet and predictable, and the dog was my favorite part.

It was a good try at doing something different but after ten minutes I was saying, "I get it, already. It's a silent movie." I would have liked it better if it were 20 minutes long.

I don't think it deserved 5 Oscars. The novelty got old fast for me. I watched most of it in 2X FF.