Review of The Artist (2011) by Gerardo R — 15 Jan 2013
A great film about a silent movie star who lives at the crossroads when talkies begin to be popular. The cinematography and black and white contrast are excellent.
Jean Dujardin plays the very charismatic lead actor who shamelessly takes in all the adulation from his fans. He is very confident and arrogant about his own star status. The movie begins when George Valentin is at the top of his game.
Dujardin's facial expressions and screen presence make him a fun actor to watch. In the film he plays a star who resembles the silent era action star Douglas Fairbanks. Interestingly, the film is short on references from the silent era. It seems to pay homage to the silent era of Hollywood, but it also takes place in an alternate universe with no historical connection to the silent era Hollywood. It is interesting they made such a choice; either decision has its own challenges. The dog appears to be a homage to the Thin Man movies, but it is not clear.
The film traces Valentin's fall from grace in a downward spiral as he fights against the inevitable future of talkies. After losing everything, Valentin struggles to build his own life because he could never be anything other than an artist. There is no antagonist in this film other than the protagonist. The film is a personal struggle against the inner demon of pride in Valentin. It is fascinating to watch the character development throughout the plot and the trajectory of his journey.
In this journey there is an actress, Peppy, who fortuitously runs into Valentin when he was at the top of his form and she makes her rise through the ranks to become the new star for the studio during the dawn of the talkies. She is excited about the future, but she is also grateful of the talent that came before her. She never forgets her initial love of acting that was inspired by her own admiration of Valentin.
A great film that, despite the odds, provides an entertaining modern version of a silent film with personal originality and style.
This review of The Artist (2011) was written by Gerardo R on 15 Jan 2013.
The Artist has generally received very positive reviews.
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