“THE ARTIST”Written and Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
**** (four stars)
The exuberant joy of going to the movies has just grown even more euphoric.
Just in time for the holiday season and honestly dear readers, for every day and night afterwards, when we all watch movies, arrives a cinematic gift unlike any other released in 2011. Writer/Director Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Artist” is a stupendously irresistible, magical, enormously playful, exhilarating and unabashedly emotional movie going experience that illustrates the art and craft of filmmaking to perfection. The film is exactly as advertised, a silent movie filmed in luxurious black and white cinematography. Perhaps, like some of you, I was also filled with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation with seeing this film because, I have to admit, I wondered if this film would successfully translate with a 21st century audience in our increasingly accelerated, instant gratification times, which includes the sometimes sensory overload experience of modern day films. I wondered if the film would be nothing more than a quaint, stuffy throwback at best or exist as a piece of chilly, self-congratulatory hipster homage at worst. Well, all of my skepticism and cinematic fears were washed away mere moments into this film and it placed a sense of uplift within me that was unquestionable. I cannot urge you enough to make time for this extremely special film. No matter your personal tastes and desires when going out to see a movie, I am certain that you will find so much to love about this one of a kind experience.
Opening in 1927, silent movie star George Valentin (an extraordinary Jean Dujardin) is on top of the world. At the premiere of his latest crowd pleaser “A Russian Affair,” George meets Peppy Miller (a gloriously enchanting Berenice Bejo), an adoring fan who holds her own big dreams of making it in the movies and the twosome form an instant connection.
George and Peppy meet once again as she gains a bit part as an extra in his latest project, “A German Affair.” Their undeniable attraction found in their first meeting proves to be no fluke as they share a brief dance on set, but unfortunately, the pair is unable to pursue their attraction as George is currently married, although unhappily to the chilly Doris (Penelope Ann Miller).
Peppy Miller’s star begins to rise as she ascends from bit parts to leading roles capturing the public’s adoration in the process. But for George, dark times are ahead as the advent of new sound technology threatens to upend his career. Two years later, George’s worst fears come to pass as studio head Al Zimmer (John Goodman) ceases production on all silent films. Fearing a life where his brand of artistry will become obsolete, George falls in a rapid downward, drunken spiral into despondency while Peppy Miller’s star continues to ascend.
How the lives of George and Peppy continue to intertwine will be left for you to discover on your own as I cannot praise the beauty of “The Artist” enough. Again, I implore you to not be deterred by the fact that this is a silent movie with (almost) no audible dialogue, ambient noises and sound effects to…ahem…speak of. I have to say that it was definitely a trick of my senses to witness a film in 2011, where even the simplest sound effects that we are all accustomed to hearing when we go to the movies where nowhere to be found. Think about it. Footsteps. The applause of an audience. The ebullient barking of an endlessly faithful and heroic dog. Absolutely, positively, no sounds whatsoever. Not only do you not miss those sounds, Hazanavicius is so astoundingly skilled with this production that he nearly tricks you into thinking you are hearing those sounds anyway. Therein lies the mastery of his visual palate and storytelling.
The plot of “The Artist” is appropriately simple and straightforward as it combines elements of “A Star Is Born” (1937), the iconic “Singin’ In the Rain” (1952) and even dashes of Orson Welles’ inimitable ”Citizen Kane” (1941) into the mix while always feeling supremely fresh, vibrant, and joyously original. With special mention that must be given to Cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman, as the look of the film is stunning. As with classic silent films, Hazanavicius’ storyline is presented to the audience though brief title cards and additional visual cues (watch the movie theater marquees in the background), which all assist to keep the audience firmly in place as to the story’s trajectory. But, I have to say the greatest elements of the success of “The Artist” are found unquestionably in the spectacular performances from Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo.
Through simply his dashingly handsome appearance, Jean Dujardin instantly recalls an amalgam of Douglas Fairbanks and Gene Kelley as he elicits a supremely engaging performance of magnetic physicality throughout as his body language and facial expressions completely convey the elegance, the arrogance, the intense pride and despair of a cinematic celebrity whose star has begun to fall. I found it very interesting that there have been several films released in 2011, from Jason Reitman’s “Young Adult,” Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia,” to even “The Muppets” for instance, where characters are in the extreme throes of an existential crisis. George Valentin is of no exception as his entire livelihood and form of artistic expression is threatened to be wiped clean from the public consciousness due to technological advances. Without his art, then who is he and what is his place in the world if it does not want him anymore? George’s despair is compellingly real within a glorious dream world like “The Artist.” It is a performance that grounds the film within an empathetic reality, providing the experience with supreme soulfulness.
As Peppy Miller, Berenice Bejo is Dujardin’s gorgeous equal as you are as instantly melted by her smile and energy as George Valentin is. Yet, Peppy does not solely serve the film as a shining starlet. She provides the film with a hefty amount of compassion, faith, tenacity, and the triumphant spirit of true love combined with a wonderment of the movies that I believe to be comparable to any audience member’s love of the movies. Her smile is as bright as the shine of the sun and I guarantee that she will warm your heart unlike any other actress that has been on screen this year.
I would be remiss if I did not make extra special mention of the film score composed by Ludovic Bource. In my opinion, not only should Bource’s score be Oscar nominated, it should win the award for Best Film Score as his wall to wall music has to convey an emotional palate to a degree that no other film of 2011 has to accomplish as well as be a pleasure to listen to. Bource’s score speaks to the tenor of the film as a whole while also existing as a musical conduit for the exterior and interior lives of all of the film’s characters as well. It is a towering accomplishment that would be a cinematic crime to ignore.
On this site, I have made mention from time to time about how movies need to earn our emotions and any goodwill we have towards those films. In the case of “The Artist,” it is how Michel Hazanavicius understands that for his film to obtain any long lasting relevance beyond a cinematic curiosity or experiment, he knows that it is not nearly enough to emulate a classic silent movie to perfection and just call it a day. Hazanavicius understands completely that for his film to resonate, he has to figure out how to render his story visually as best as he is humanly possible. “The Artist” proves to be a lesson for all established filmmakers as well as for those who harbor cinematic dreams. It is simply the difference between good storytelling and bad storytelling and Michel Hazanavicius is a masterful storyteller.
But “The Artist” is no stodgy film school lesson as it is invigorating, thrilling entertainment from beginning to end. When you regard the magic of “The Artist” on screen, it is a reminder that the films we see and adore in 2011, and throughout our lives, would not exist without the era of silent motion pictures and it is an art form that must be forever appreciated and revered. Think of some of the furthest reaching films of this year. What is the nightmarish opening eight-minute prologue to “Melancholia” but a silent movie? What is much of Terrence Malick’s odyssey “The Tree Of Life,” which includes Jessica Chastain’s nearly wordless performance but a new version of a silent film? Examples of the silent film era are prevalent in almost everything we are able to view in the 21st century and Hazanavicius plays with our enthusiastically perceptions over and again while also enthralling us with his beautiful story of George and Peppy.
Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Artist” is no mere confection or cinematic trifle. I believe that this film is a masterpiece, a tribute to the innocence and rapture that is found when making an unexpected and amazing discovery. I wholeheartedly challenge you to find a film released this year that conveys the inexplicable and transportive magic that occurs during a shared experience with strangers in a darkened movie theater that is better than this one. I dare you to not surrender to its overwhelming charms. think this is 2011’s crowning achievement.
I implore all of you to leave any feelings of trepidation behind, purchase a ticket and make the discovery of the excellence that is “The Artist.”
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