By Brooke King, Entertainment Editor
Is it possible to watch The Artist and focus on the acting without being distracted by the lack of sound? While some may find this cinematic element frustrating, it is one of the movie’s most enduring qualities.
This is easily one of the most entertaining films of the year because of its story, the acting performances, and because it delves uniquely back into old Hollywood, playing with silent filming and black and white cinematography. It should be noted that the film is not totally silent, as it still uses music, which is another aspect that makes it reminiscent of films from the 1920s.
Set in 1927, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is an upon his luck actor. Enthusiastic about his new role, he is standings in front of a crowded theater taking bows and applause from an adoring crowd. Outside the theater, fans and media surround Valentin in hopes of getting close to their hero. A young girl, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) drops her wallet on the ground in order to sneak past security and meet Valentin. Inspired by meeting her hero, Miller is determined to follow in his path and soon gets a small part as an extra in Valentin’s new movie ‘A German Affair’. Valentin enters the studio for his new movie and is instantly distracted by Miller rehearsing on the other side of the stage. He tries to join in her dance rehearsal but is shocked to find that the girl he was admiring was the same one from the crowd outside the theater.
Years pass, until one day, Al Zimmer (John Goodman), the stereotypical studio boss, shows Valentin the newest edition in technology, an attempt to record movies in sound. Valentin is disgusted with the footage and mocks it. That night he has a nightmare about how every sound is exaggerated, but his own voice is stifled. His weariness about sound films is correct, he is soon fired by Zimmer, sending him into a downward spiral as he tries to self-fund the comeback of silent films. Miller, on the other hand, is successful as the new star on the scene. As Miller continues to climb the ladder of success, Valentin’s world becomes turned upside down.
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist takes the history of Hollywood and puts a fresh and unique spin on it. Hazanavicius has worked with Dujardin before on the James Bond parody, OSS 117. Much like his performance in OSS 117, Dujardin delivers the same, what now seems, trademark smile and cocky attitude, as he does in The Artist. Bejo brings a sort of warmth and lightheartedness to her performance that makes her character seemingly believable. However, it is the attention paid to the location of this film, the authentic interpretation of the 1920’s silent film industry, and the superb casting of the supporting roles, that encapsulates the period quite nicely. In my opinion, the highest honor goes to Hazanavicius, as he was so faithful to the format that I forgot I was watching a contemporary silent film at times. The Artist is up for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Supporting Actress, and Cinematography. With such a wide range of special attributes, the Artist is sure to take home more than a few Oscars.
