Film Review: “The Artist”

 

 

Heading into Sunday night’s (Feb. 26) Academy Awards event, two films, “Hugo” and “The Artist,” lead the nominees with 11 nominations for “Hugo” and 10 for “The Artist.”

Both films are still available in local theaters, and I urge you to see them. “The Artist” is at the Regal Colonnade and the Fiesta, while “Hugo,” Martin Scorsese’s first 3-D film, is at the Regal Colonnade.

On the surface, these two films could not be more different. “The Artist” is a black-and-white silent movie, while “Hugo” is a lavish cinematic experience that places 3-D at the service of the filmmaker and does not try to startle audiences with various objects hurtling out of the screen at them.

And yet, “The Artist” and “Hugo” are both homages to the history of cinema. This article, however, is about “The Artist,” the leading candidate to bring home Oscars for Best Actor, Best Film and Best Director, among others.

In a fictional framework, “The Artist” visits a real period in cinema history when silent films were giving way to “talkies.”

During this transition, the careers of many silent-film stars crumbled with the determination that their voices were not suitable for speaking roles.

Debonair Frenchman George Valentin, a Hollywood silent movies box-office idol played by the real French actor-comedian Jean Dujardin, scoffs at the idea of talkies ever taking over the business, which of course we know is a false hope.

Meanwhile, Poppy Miller, a bit player who is given a role in Valentin’s last successful silent film, rises to fame in the talkies.

Played by Argentinian-born French actress Bérénice Bejo, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress but will not win it, Poppy befriends Valentin and rescues him after his descent into total despair and near oblivion almost costs him his life.

The film concludes with an inspiring ending in a scene that clearly pays tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Though “The Artist” is light and frothy, it has pleased audiences enough that spontaneous applause at its conclusion has been a frequent occurrence in theaters around the nation.

And while “The Artist” is a French film, the fact that it is silent with subtitles actually results in a movie that is quite cosmopolitan, with American actors John Goodman, James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller playing important roles.

Bérénice Bejo is married to the film’s Oscar-nominated director, Michel Hazanavicius.

Pet Club members, take note: The film is almost stolen away by Uggi, a Jack Russell Terrier who may be about the cutest canine to ever appear in a motion picture. Born in 2002, Uggi was about to be sent to a dog pound before being rescued by animal trainer Omar Van Muller. Uggi has appeared in several films, including “Water for Elephants,” along with television commercials, and will soon become the “spokesdog” for a Nintendo product.

In addition to all of the elements I described above, “The Artist” is served well by an excellent score composed by Ludovic Bourse, who also is a favorite Oscar candidate. Musical scores, of course, were an important accompaniment to silent movies.

Though described as a silent film, this is not completely accurate. There are moments of sound that are appropriately placed for effect. And because the story is so easy to follow due to the exaggerated facial and body expressions that were important in silent films, there are not as many subtitles as you might expect.

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer should take down well-deserved Oscars for “The Help” Sunday evening, but that won’t stop “The Artist,” the type of tribute to motion pictures that Hollywood insiders love, from grabbing more than its share of awards.

DO go see “The Artist” while you have a chance.

Here is the official trailer for “The Artist”: 

 

 

And here is the wonderful Uggi and his trainer on the Ellen Degeneres program:

 

Comments

[Leah]

Great review, David, and great timing, as "The Artist" did clean up for best picture, director and actor. Thanks for alerting us to this wonderful film, which I saw Sunday afternoon.

[David Berman]

Thanks, Leah.

I think the biggest surprise of the night was Meryl Streep's win for best actress. Her film received mixed reviews, but it looks like her spot-on portrayal of Margaret Thatcher carried the day.

I thought the award was in the bag for Viola Davis, who undoubtedly had an uplifting acceptance speech to deliver.

As an actor,Streep has a record 17 nominations. And with three Oscars, she is now just one behind Katharine Hepburn for that record.