The Artist

As a rare (mostly) silent film, The Artist is forced to balance the norms of the almost extinct form with contemporary filmmaking. Jean Dujardin stars as George Valentin, a silent film star in the late 1920s. When talking pictures burst onto the scene, he encounters resistance to the old form and watches a young actress (Berenice Bejo) rise to prominence as he attempts to stay in the spotlight. Since the movie is a silent film about silent films, there is a layered sense that The Artist is proving the point that George is trying to make to those around him. Yes, silent films can be progressive and fresh. Maybe it just took us 80 years of movies with sound to realize it.

The use of over-the-top expressions by the actors can at first come across as campy, though once the film settles in, they are appropriate and necessary. In many aspects there are moments of feeling out the process, since the norm is so different from how things were in the late 20s. With that being said, modern filmmaking proves kind to this silent film, as is seen with sharp contrast in the black and white and the powerful lighting.

Taking out all of the specifics regarding sound and color, The Artist is an interesting story full of strong storytelling and quality characters. The film would likely appeal to moviegoers from any point in the last 80 years. The addition of a heroically loyal dog and dance numbers keep the mood balanced between high drama and comic airiness. This compromise is likely to please the dark minds of award show voters as well as the (usually) more fun-loving common folk. The Artist is a unique film experience. Following Hugo as a movie addressing the goings-on of film history, there is a case to revisit the silent form on occasion after the stunning success in this instance. (9.4 out of 10)