Review of The Artist (2011) by Phil H — 17 Feb 2014

Didn't really know what this was about for along time, saw the posters everywhere but never really took much notice, then I saw the trailer and knew I wanted to see it...mainly out of curiosity.

Freakin' awesome is all I can say, this film is 100% win from start to finish I tell no lie. Yes it is a black and white film, yes it is a SILENT film and yes it is just like those old scratchy films you've seen in documentaries from the era, so why see it you ask?

If you wanna see a homage to old 1920's films with dashing well dressed chaps, cute dames and lovely choreographed sequences harking back to the days of the Hollywood musicals then this is for you. The plot isn't too original really, the film is very much along the lines of 'Singin in the Rain' in terms of the gentle charming humour and basic story outline. Add to this a lead man who in my opinion looks very much like Gene Kelly and he dances well too!

The two leads in this film (to me) are unknown performers (unless you live in France) yet they look like Hollywood regulars and fit this film amazingly, Jean Dujardin is good looking, elegant and has good visual comedy skills whilst Bérénice Bejo is very cute, the perfect partner, a great match to Kelly and Reynolds. There are one or two well known faces from Hollywood in the film, Goodman has a main role within the film but he doesn't really fit the bill for me, just kept thinking oh its John Goodman in black and white.

Its hard to think you could watch a silent film these days but it really is such a fresh welcome change of pace just to have a musical score, the only problem I had with the film was the lack of intertitles or text that comes up in place of sound/speech from the actors.

A great feel good movie with stunning visuals achieved using the basic technology of the time, its got plenty of charm, heart and warmth, there's something about a black and white film that is just so cozy. You simply can't help but enjoy and smile whilst watching this, younger viewers and teens beware...there are no explosions or CGI is this film (hurrah!).