Black and White? Check.
Original 1.333 aspect ratio? Check.
Orchestra? Check.
Lack of vocal dialogue? Huh???
The Artist brings back a medium from the first part of the 20th century, the Silent Movie, and it does it an incredibly successful way. The story of The Artist follows fictional Hollywood silent film actor George Valentin (Jean Dujardin - A View of Love, Little White Lies) and his sidekick pooch as they rise to superstar status, then fall ungracefully from glory beginning in the 1920s and leading into the new era of film. Along the way, he crosses paths with a rising, energetic young actress named Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo, Prey, Bouquet final). The starlet first invigorates new life into the aging Valentin, but soon finds herself as the replacement to the world’s fix on Hollywood stardom thanks to the new "talkies" and her ability to adapt to the new medium.
While I’m sure that there’s a large portion movie lovers that are reluctant to view The Artist because of its old-time presentation, it’s a shame to miss this one, and it looks outstanding on Blu-ray, even though it still retains some old-time charm. I understand that the movie may not appeal to everyone, but if you are still reading this, you’ve already shown enough interest that makes me
Winner of countless Academy Awards, The Artist has an entertaining story that offers a film within a film. As such, after even only a handful of minutes, many will almost forget that there is no dialogue present other than the occasional text on the screen. The metaphors that the film tackles are relevant to everyday life, and can appeal toward a wide range of audiences. Of course, those who appreciate the origins of the medium and those who have gone through more life changes may enjoy The Artist even further.
The acting, even void of dialogue, was outstanding all around, from the main stars to supporting actors like John Goodman (Roseanne, The Big Lebowski) and James Cromwell (The Green Mile, L.A. Confidential). The Blu-ray also offers up a handful of special features that offer interestingly additional information about the production as a whole.
A film like The Artist just goes to prove that a great story doesn’t need bloated dialogue or all of today’s bells and whistles to capture the hearts of the audience. If you’ve made it this far, do yourself a favor and check out The Artist the first chance you get.
