The Artist has been nominated for many awards and has won many. And rightly so, as it is a refreshingly differently movie in a sea of movies that seem to reiterate the same theme or device to tell us the story.
The film starts in 1927 when movies are in the heyday of silent films. Jean Dujardin, playing George Valentin, is a pleasure to watch. He is that "Hollywood Star" that is happy to please his public and live up to the image. However, it appears that his home life is less than ideal. A lack of communication (no talking?) is the order of the day.
As part of Valentin's daily work life, a young ingenue (Berenice Bejo playing Peppy Miller) manipulates a photo opportunity with the star and her career trajectory is higher than an Apollo mission. Unfortunately, times soon change and sound comes to the cinema. George Valentin will not consider "talkies". He takes on the writing, production, direction and starring in a silent movie that opens at the same time as a Peppy Miller "talking" film. Of course, no one wants to see a silent film when one can see a "talkie". Especially with Peppy Miller!
Valentin makes his opinion known at his studio. This consists mainly of studio head, played by John Goodman. Wonderfully played, I might add. We never hear him speak a word, but we can only wish. He has done a marvelous job, as always.
Valentin's career spirals down as does his domestic life. Valentin descends into poverty. He is rescued from a fire by a policeman notified by Valentin's faithful dog (I know, it's so trite but so dear) and the policeman is played by one of the Murray brothers (as in Bill Murray), and the whole scene is predictable. Because it's a silent movie. And it's supposed to be that way. If it wasn't, you would feel robbed of the experience. Peppy Miller becomes aware of Valentin's predicament and rescues him. He thinks it is charity until she proves it is something else..... respect. That is what makes this movie so good.
The film starts in 1927 when movies are in the heyday of silent films. Jean Dujardin, playing George Valentin, is a pleasure to watch. He is that "Hollywood Star" that is happy to please his public and live up to the image. However, it appears that his home life is less than ideal. A lack of communication (no talking?) is the order of the day.
As part of Valentin's daily work life, a young ingenue (Berenice Bejo playing Peppy Miller) manipulates a photo opportunity with the star and her career trajectory is higher than an Apollo mission. Unfortunately, times soon change and sound comes to the cinema. George Valentin will not consider "talkies". He takes on the writing, production, direction and starring in a silent movie that opens at the same time as a Peppy Miller "talking" film. Of course, no one wants to see a silent film when one can see a "talkie". Especially with Peppy Miller!
Valentin makes his opinion known at his studio. This consists mainly of studio head, played by John Goodman. Wonderfully played, I might add. We never hear him speak a word, but we can only wish. He has done a marvelous job, as always.
Valentin's career spirals down as does his domestic life. Valentin descends into poverty. He is rescued from a fire by a policeman notified by Valentin's faithful dog (I know, it's so trite but so dear) and the policeman is played by one of the Murray brothers (as in Bill Murray), and the whole scene is predictable. Because it's a silent movie. And it's supposed to be that way. If it wasn't, you would feel robbed of the experience. Peppy Miller becomes aware of Valentin's predicament and rescues him. He thinks it is charity until she proves it is something else..... respect. That is what makes this movie so good.
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