Review of The Artist (2011) by Steven T — 07 Feb 2013

I have many friends who, for whatever reason, utterly dislike watching foreign films, or more specifically reading subtitles. "If I wanted to read, I would read a book" is the most common excuse. When trying to encourage this crowd to see The Artist, these same people pull a face and complain that it is silent and (god have mercy) in black and white as well!. I honestly do not understand where this aversion to some of cinemas greatest accomplishments comes from. These same people are likely to shell out $16 to see Transformers 3, but won't sit down and watch the film that as of this week took out the best picture, director and actor awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Let us not forget the fact that it is an incredibly entertaining, stylish and impeccably well acted homage to one of the greatest era's in Hollywood history.

The year is 1927, Hollywood is on the brink of a major development in the creation of motion pictures: sound! This advent, however, is not welcomed by famed silent actor George Valentin (Jean Dujardin). At first, he like many others at the time thought it would be a passing fad, but he soon realizes talkies are here to stay. Through a chance meeting with an up-and-coming young actress named Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), George gets a first hand glimpse of how quickly his life is going to change and how easily he is replaced.

It is a rare occasion to see a silent (though not really) black and white film at a mainstream cinema, even rarer that the film is as entertaining as The Artist is.Certainly deserved its Best Picture Oscar!! Check it out when you can!