Movie of the Week: The Artist
Feb. 23rd, 2012 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaceyI was intrigued by the trailers for this film, shown way back around Christmas, or maybe even before, but then frustrated when despite the trailers the film never appeared at my local Cineworld in Wakefield. Maybe they figured the film was too arty for us northerners, who knows, but once it started winning awards, guess what. Yes, better late than never, Cineworld.
So... a black and white silent movie about the coming of the talkies and what happens to one rising star and one falling one. A Star is Born crossed with Singing in the Rain, (but very, very quiet). Jean Dujardin (as George Valentin) even looks like Gene Kelly. And there's a dog.
I loved it. The lack of dialogue proved to be of no detrement to the story at all. The whole thing seemed to have space to breathe and the story unfolded narurally, artistically, poignantly. Special kudos for the nightmare sequence where George, worried that the coming of the talkies will be the end of his hugely successful career, dreams that he can hear everything - all the little sounds of day to day living - but when he tries to speak his voice is silent.
And when, right at the end, the director says 'Cut' it actually takes you a moment or two to realise that the movie has changed from silent mode. That's when you realise you didn't actually miss the dialogue.
It's a very clever film. Clever, entertaining and utterly charming. I'm not surprised it's scooped up tons of awards. If you haven't seen it yet, seek it out.
So... a black and white silent movie about the coming of the talkies and what happens to one rising star and one falling one. A Star is Born crossed with Singing in the Rain, (but very, very quiet). Jean Dujardin (as George Valentin) even looks like Gene Kelly. And there's a dog.
I loved it. The lack of dialogue proved to be of no detrement to the story at all. The whole thing seemed to have space to breathe and the story unfolded narurally, artistically, poignantly. Special kudos for the nightmare sequence where George, worried that the coming of the talkies will be the end of his hugely successful career, dreams that he can hear everything - all the little sounds of day to day living - but when he tries to speak his voice is silent.
And when, right at the end, the director says 'Cut' it actually takes you a moment or two to realise that the movie has changed from silent mode. That's when you realise you didn't actually miss the dialogue.
It's a very clever film. Clever, entertaining and utterly charming. I'm not surprised it's scooped up tons of awards. If you haven't seen it yet, seek it out.
