There seems to have been a big shift this year in terms of reminiscing (more than usual) into what made movies what they are today from old characters to historical perspectives. Although each of them vary in terms of their mileage, each seem to remind audiences both how little some aspects of the film industry has changed along with the advancements that have pushed storytelling forward. Then it is only appropriate that the year ends with one of the best culminations of this formula with The Artist. Although not truly based off of one true event or past characters, The Artist is an engaging and touching look back at the silent film industry, but more than just that, the film is a creative and emotional journey through one man’s rise and fall from fame.
The Artist follows George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a popular silent film actor who is at the height of his career with many fans and a large sum of wealth. One day, after his most recent film premiere, one of his fans, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) stumbles into George’s photo shoot and gets to meet her idol face-to-face. She is also an up-and-coming extra dancer who slowly starts to make gains in the industry. After another unexpected meeting, George gives Peppy a small fake mole on her face and soon, Peppy skyrockets into fame while George has to deal with the studios’ move into talkies in which he comes into contention with his head honcho, Al Zimmer (John Goodman). Being helped only by his butler Clifton (James Cromwell) and his dog, Jack, George struggles to get back to his popularity while Peppy tries to deal with her new-founded fame and her past friendship.
Although strong in many facets, there are a few quibbles that came to mind throughout the film dealing with emotional contexts and concepts. The overall tone of the film is very playful and jovial, which works with its silent film backdrop and the vibrant expressions and actions of its actors. However, the emotions of the film are much deeper and thoughtful than just some fun banter or actions and although the shifts are mostly noticeable, at times, there are strange clashes of emotional styles that seem to dilute the moment whether it is a fierce emotional outburst from George or a confrontation between two main stars. Perhaps it is a product of the times Director Hazanavicius wanted to go for, yet admittedly, it was distracting to see happen. On a lesser note, as creative and unique as the film is, it feels that the film could have even been pushed farther down the concept, playing with more of the aesthetics and time period than presented.
As a whole, though, The Artist is a wonderful achievement in both homage and originality. Aesthetically, the film is period rich and well-done from the look of the buildings and costuming to the melody-heavy soundtrack that starts out quiet and tinny but eventually bellows up into a much more full orchestra as the years progress. And really, it is that concept of silence and sound that is so fascinating about the film and where its creativity shines, playing with the idea of a silent film with modern technology. Director Hazanavicius cleverly tinkers with all the aesthetic and aural tricks that could not have been possible with the silent films of the past and makes them meaningful additions to the story. One of George’s dream sequence is a perfect encapsulation of this concept which shouldn’t seem that impressive but really is a great sequence that is emotional and fantastic in its execution and thought.
This point can relate to the final two terrific aspects of the film – the acting and the plot. The actors are all wonderfully chosen in that they extenuate their movements and facial expressions, so immensely important due to the lack of sound. From the unexpected, such as Cromwell, to the perfectly cast, like Goodman, each actor seems born to play any of these roles in the silent era. And the best comes to us with Dujardin, an actor who seems to embody the front man looks of Clark Gable while the expressions and movement of Charlie Chaplin. Not only can he play the funny and charismatic actor who really sells the film (and can also dance) but also hosts a wide range of emotion without a single line of heard dialogue. Its an amazing range that is sure to impress and really should be applauded for a fine show here. In addition to this is a fairly strong plot that capitalizes on the era of Hollywood and silent films and thematically makes the aesthetic trappings, time period, and the silent film workings itself all work into the plot. Although the core plot is fairly straightforward, the journey of the rise and fall of an actor becomes an engaging ride emotionally, physically and mentally while being told in such a unique and fascinating fashion.
The Artist is an unexpected surprise that is creative in spirit and in execution. Only marred by some emotional clashes and a concepts that could have been taken even further, Hazanavicius has created both a celebration of silent film while still making it unique, having it stand out on its own with some of the year’s best acting and playful imagination. Some may argue how the film is simply steeped in nostalgia and plays to a limited niche viewership but in actuality, if you can accept the silent film dialogue cards and the black-and-white aesthetics, there is an enjoyable plot, insightful themes, a great soundtrack, and creative gimmicks all wrapped into a beautiful film about fame, time, and hardships.
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Rated: PG-13
The Wie muses: **** out of *****