The Artist (2011)

The Artist (2011)

7/10

Starring

Jean Dujardin

Bérénice Bejo

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius

The Artist is a fine film, I have to admit. I dreaded watching it because, although I like old black-and-white films, I’ve never been a fan of silent movies. So, this 2011 silent film felt like an attempt to bring back memories of an era I thought was best left with Charlie Chaplin.

When the movie started, I had to fight the urge to turn it off. But as the screenplay began to unfold and Jean Dujardin’s character, George Valentin, started acting, the movie quickly became captivating. I couldn’t help but laugh and grew curious to see how the character would make his comeback.

The movie’s screenplay is something you have to experience. This French/English film boasts a screenplay that was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards.
I’ve been asked why I talk so much about screenplays. Well, it’s because the screenplay is the backbone of a movie. It dictates how the story flows from beginning to end. The director’s job is to bring that screenplay to life on screen.
If you have a bad screenplay and a good director, you’ll get a bad movie. The same goes for a good screenplay with a bad director—you’ll still end up with a bad movie.
But with a good director like Michel Hazanavicius and a great screenplay (which he also wrote), you get a masterpiece in the making. And don’t even get me started on the movie’s score. Since it’s a silent film, the score is front and center. It has to be good and blend seamlessly with what’s happening on screen to avoid distractions. The costumes were also spot-on. While watching, I felt like I was transported back to the silent movie era.

The movie’s plot follows George Valentin, a once-famous and popular actor whose career takes a nosedive as silent films fall out of favor and “talkies” become the new trend. George fails to adapt, and soon, he becomes a shadow of his former self. The film shows how he’s helped by someone who idolized him during his heyday.

The Artist is a great movie. Don’t delay like I did—go see it, the black and white and lack of many words do not affect the quality of the movie.

I have to add, the movie suffers from pacing, especially at the start, where it feels slow and hard to get into. While the screenplay and direction are strong, the plot can feel predictable, sticking to familiar themes of an actor's fall and comeback. Also, even though the score and costumes are great, the movie doesn’t always balance its nostalgic vibe with a fresh and engaging story.

Its accolades include:

• Academy Awards: 5 wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.
• BAFTA Awards: 7 wins, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay.