100 movies: The Artist

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100 movies of 2012, Annual Movie Challenge

The ArtistThe Artist (21/01/12)

Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.

I think the world has used up all the words that could be used to describe just how beautiful this film is. I have never experience a truly authentic silent film from the silent film era. But to me, this looked like it could have been from the golden age of film.

I thought it might take a little while getting used to the whole silent film aspect. But it didn’t. It’s all about the body language and a little bit of lip-reading. Which isn’t as hard as you’d think. I love it when films let the audience work a little bit to get what they want out of the film instead of being spoon fed everything.

Watching George despair at his failing career is heartbreaking to watch. It’s all very dramatic, but not melodramatic. Some of it was marginally terrifying to watch.

I adored this film. Credit goes to Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo for creating some magic onscreen. If only all films left you feeling all warm and glowy on the inside.
Rating: 5/5

Read on to see all the films watched this year…

6 Films so far this year

  1. The Tourist 1/5 (02/01/12)
  2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 5/5 (03/01/12)
  3. World’s Greatest Dad 2/5 (14/01/12)
  4. Haywire 3/5 (19/01/12)
  5. Dead Snow 3/5 (20/01/12)
  6. The Artist 5/5 (21/01/12)

11 Comments

  1. I enjoyed this movie as much as you did. It was a fun love letter to an era which has passed that was very well executed. Plus the leads were amazing.

  2. I was waiting for your review on The Artist, Jaina! So glad you enjoyed it so much. Agreed on the comment regarding having to THINK sometimes about a film, not being spoon-fed everything. There was definitely some magic onscreen. Nice write up.

  3. This movie is so much fun. I was a little apprehensive at first, too, simply because I wasn’t sure how the silent setting would translate to the theater audience. The opening scene really set the tone for the rest of the experience, as everyone was cracking up at George hamming it up on stage.

  4. Ah! Glad you finally got to see this and ended up loving it too Jaina. Thoroughly deserving of all the praise and acclaim it’s been getting this year!

  5. This was a very well-made film and had its moments where it captures the whole spirit and essence of the silent film era but it’s not that life-changing experience that everybody says it is. Still, a good flick though and I do think it does still deserve the Best Picture Oscar just because I don’t think The Descendants would be a very good winner that will last for the ages. Good review Jaina.

  6. “I love it when films let the audience work a little bit to get what they want out of the film instead of being spoon fed everything.” I like what you said here and totally agree. I’m not familiar with silent films but I found The Artist to be so enjoyable and engaging from start to finish.

    • I do believe this is the first ever silent film I’ve seen. It’s made me a little intrigued to maybe find another from the actual period of silent films and see how it adds up.

  7. Agreed. Making audiences do a little bit of work instead of spoonfeeding everything is very much appreciated. So glad you loved this film. I finally got to see it this week also and gave it the exact same score! woohoo!

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