|
|
|
|
|
Each year, films seem to get noisier and flashier, their computer-generated effects more eye-popping. So, in a time of 3D and CGI, no one really expected a filmmaker to release a silent, black-and-white film. But that�s exactly why the sheer creativity (and novelty) of director Michel Hazanavicius�s clever new, old-style film, The Artist, is taking audiences (and award voters) by storm.
The Artist stars Jean Dujardin as silent film star George Valentin, who�s at the top of his career in 1927. Peppy Miller (B�r�nice Bejo), meanwhile, is just an eager young fan. But after an encounter with George at the premiere of his latest hit, she decides to audition for a role in a film�and, with a little bit of help from the charming star, her first role kicks off a promising career.
It isn�t long, though, before things in Hollywood begin to change. Silent films fade away as talking pictures gain popularity. And while Peppy�s star is starting to shine, George finds that his is starting to grow dim.
The Artist is certainly unlike any other movie to hit theaters this year�or this millennium, for that matter. The old-school style definitely takes some getting used to�especially if you aren�t accustomed to reading your movie dialogue. For a while, in fact, you might find yourself struggling to try to read the actors� lips, trying to figure out exactly what they�re saying. Eventually, though, you�ll realize that that�s not really the point�and you�ll finally be able to settle back, stop worrying about the details, and simply take it all in.
In a film like this one, it�s especially tricky to find the right tone. After all, it would have been so easy to turn The Artist into little more than a parody of an old silent film, overdoing the tinny music and the actors� mugging for the camera�making a mockery of the classic style. But it would have been just as easy to take it too seriously, making the film oppressively heavy�and, as a result, painfully dull for audiences who are way too accustomed to big budget action and flashy effects. Either way, the novelty would have worn off, quickly losing the audience�s attention.
Somehow, though, Hazanavicius manages to find the perfect tone. The resulting film is thoughtful and dramatic, with plenty of subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) symbolism. But it�s also witty and playful. You�ll get caught up in the story (and the subtle romance) of these two stars�cool, dashing George and the appropriately named Peppy�but you�ll also laugh at the antics of George�s lovable, scene-stealing dog.
The Artist is definitely an artistic film. Film buffs will absolutely adore its old-fashioned charm, its engrossing story, its pitch-perfect performances, and the sheer novelty of it all. But that doesn�t mean that it�s strictly for the art house crowd. Even if you normally shy away from artsy, subtitled movies, you�ll still be entertained by this unusual little film. It�s a delightful cinematic adventure that certainly stands out in a sea of CGI.
|
|
|
|
