The Artist Review

Plot Summary:
Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) starts to wonder if talking pictures will make him a nobody, he starts a connection with Peppy Miller (Bernice Bejo), a young dancer who desires to become an actress.

The Positives:
As many people may wonder, how can a silent film be made and could possibly be entertaining in today's era? Well, the answer lies in this film right here. The Artist has all of the trademarks of a traditional silent film. The editing relies on wipes and dissolves, rather than just plain cuts. The cinematography makes the film look like a traditional silent film rather than the copy it really is. The film itself is very clever and humorous in the way it pokes fun at the genre, such as signs saying "Silence" or people asking, "Why don't you talk?" It's a smart and harmless way to poke fun at the genre.

The acting from Jean Dujardin and Bernice Bejo is simply wonderful. Jean Dujardin truly makes this film. The moment he enters on screen, you instantly care for him and want him to succeed. You feel for him when he's at his lowest and continue to hope for the best for this character. Dujardin's performance, even though it's silent, might be one of the most layered and compelling performances of 2011. Bernice Bejo fits the female role very well. You immediately care for her the moment she enters the screen and you may be enchanted by her smile and laugh. I may also mention that Dujardin and Bejo's onscreen chemistry might be one of the most timeless romances in a while, without a single onscreen kiss or a line of dialogue. It is simply beautiful.

Many people may wonder how a film like this could possibly be entertaining. All I can say is, this might be one of the most entertaining surprises I've ever seen. The plot is thoroughly entertaining, even when it gets dark. The film itself is hilarious, heartwarming and clever without it needing dialogue. I feel more people should give this film a chance, rather than dismiss it because it is a silent film.

The Negatives:
I really did not have any issues with this film except for one thing. As I mentioned earlier, the film gets dark in the second act. However, the film still chooses to go to the happy ending approach rather than try something ambitious. But since this is a silent film, they are really limited to what they choose, so I understand why they chose the happy ending approach.

Conclusion:
The Artist is a triumph. It is easily one of the most hilarious, heartwarming, clever and crowd-pleasing films of 2011. It also redefines the silent film genre beautifully, and displays movie magic wonderfully. This should not be missed!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10