The Artist 2011
I never saw this movie when it came out, but it won the Oscar for Best Picture. It’s a great idea: a silent movie filmed in black and white, taking place as Hollywood goes from silent movies to talkies. And one that is bound to win over critics and Academy members while turning off most of the public (at least the part of the public Hollywood targets). The two main characters are unknown actors (or were), but there are some names in there like John Goodman and James Cromwell.
I enjoyed it. There’s a romance, glamour, technology, and a cute dog. It probably didn’t need to be black and white and it isn’t always silent (music plays almost the whole way through, but there are also some real sounds used almost as special effects). The two main actors are very good with Jean Dujardin as an established silent movie star who has just peaked at the beginning of the movie, and a young starlet on the rise played by Berenice Bejo, who is just cute as she can be. These are great characters, played perfectly, and the romance comes off as genuine even though it has problems.
The Artist is pretty short at an hour and forty minutes, but it probably seems a little longer. I still enjoyed it, but the plot sags in a few places. Still, this is fun movie to watch if you are in the mood (though be warned it has its dark moments).
Written: 31 Oct 2012
Owned on: Digital