Movies have been described as art for the masses, the most universal of art forms. So there's an irony that when movies were at their most accessible, silent and simple, people watched in theatres wearing tuxedos and ballgowns.
'The Artist', like 'Singin' in the Rain', takes place during that transitory period when talkies had emerged, pushing silent movies and their actors off screen. Jean Dujardin plays silent film star George Valentin, a dead ringer for Clark Gable. With his super-expressive face and lithe frame, Valentin is made for silent movies, but as talkies come into fashion, Valentin becomes a relic. (It doesn't help that he has a French accent.) Meanwhile, Valentin's young protege, the vivacious Peppy Miller played by Berenice Bejo becomes a fast rising star who of course temporarily leaves her one time mentor behind. The first silent film to receive a major theatrical release in thirty years, The Artist was a huge hit at Cannes before racking up the awards and nominations during Oscar season.
The film on its face is enjoyable enough. The director, Michel Hazanvicius, like in all silent films fills his movie with slapstick, big symbolism, and obvious themes to get his point across which in small doses is fine, but grates on the nerves a tad as the movie goes along. Which begs the question as to whether or not the Artist is as great as critics and prognosticators have made it out to be. Yes and no. Obviously working from a much higher level of difficulty than modern films, it's commendable how the film retains momentum over 90 minutes. And of course the actors are fantastic in all the traditional ways theatre actors are supposed to be whether dancing effortlessly across the screen, or pantomiming their feelings for all to see.
But part of its charm is what also makes the film feel slight, and at times, surprisingly clunky. The narrative is overwrought at times, and sinks into melodrama (not the good kind) towards the end of the film. In the end I'm glad I watched 'The Artist', I just don't know if it was necessary.
