"_______________"
(hard to find a good quote on a silent film)
Who would have thought that one of the best films of 2011 would be a silent black and white film. Well, it was. I listened to an interview of a famous director and he was asked what he thought about The Artist. He said that the writer/director Michel Hazanavicious, has done what all directors wish they could do and that is be brave enough to make a silent film.
OK before I get started I just want to point out a few things about seeing a silent film. If you go to see one do NOT bring in a bag of chips that you can't open. If after five minutes said bag is still not open... let it go. Do not follow it up with a loud granola bar and some hard candy. It is a silent film that means it will be pretty quiet in the theater. That's all. Thanks for letting me whine.
I wanted to see this film after hearing all the buzz and praise that everyone had given it. I decided to go see it one night on my own since no one else want to go with me. so I walked into the theater three minutes before the start time and I'm the only person in it. Then one more showed up the one more. So there we are three guys all flying solo. pretty close to a private showing.
The Artist is about a man named George Valentin, played by Jean Dujardin, who is a silent film star in the late 20's. At the peak of his career the talkies show up. He resist the movie with sound and is left behind. during the transition he runs into a young lady, Peppy Miller, played by Berenice Bejo(A Nights Tale) who wants to be in the pictures. She end up with her picture on the front page of the papers with George and puts his movie debut on the fifth. George gets her a part in one of his films and she works hard and her career takes off. As he is resisting the talking films she is embracing it. He is left behind and she her career is taking off. All this as the depression hits. His life goes down hill fast as he watches her doing great. There paths cross several times and cross again.
The rest of the film is George's struggle with his pride. It is a beautiful film. I caught myself smiling a lot and was trying not to laugh at a few scenes (it was a very quiet theater afterall.) The movie had a Singing in the Rain feel to it. There two great scenes that stuck with me. The first it a scene where the two dance together with a screen between them. The other is a scene with Peppy in Georges dressing room alone with his tuxedo jacket. Both wwre brilliant. I would love to take my Mother-in Law to this film. She would love it.
I highly recommend this film. If you have not seen a silent film before this is a great cross-over. It is a great date film. The reading is pretty minimal so if you hate subtitles you would have no problem with this film. If you have not seen grandma in a while pick her up and take her out to the movies. She would love it. Just don't tell her how much movie tickets cost these days.
9 out of 10
