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If you only see one silent film this year …

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jean dujardin in the artist

The most loveable narcissist you'll ever want to meet.

Expanding on yesterday’s post, we did go and see The Artist. Two thumbs up. While it’s hard to judge whether the movie’s appeal derives more from the gimmick ( a silent film in black and white) or the story (the inevitable arc of celebrity in Hollywood), maybe it’s best not to overthink it. What I liked most was Jean Dujardin’s wide and infectious smile. I found myself grinning right along with him.

Yes, both he and his costar (Berenice Bejo) tend to chew the scenery, but that’s kind of how it worked in the days before spoken dialog. The fact that both are mostly unknown on this side of the pond makes it charming rather than grating. You wouldn’t want to see an American star like Brad Pitt mugging his way through this. That might make the film feel like an overlong joke.

I’m not sure I’d rate this the best of the year’s Oscar contenders, but it’s close. I like it when filmmakers take a chance, and do it for the sheer fun of the exercise rather than the pursuit of profit. I like seeing how well a story can be told using only the tools they had in the '20s. I like a really smart Jack Russell terrier. And the ending … well, I won’t spoil it. Dave Bob says check it out.

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Comments

  1. Maxine says

    For me, this film showed up the importance of words. I liked it for the first 20 mins but then once the initial charm wore off I found it one-dimensional and kind of, er, boring (apart from the dog). Also the ending fell flat, if you compare the weak dancing with Astaire/Rogers. Oh well, at least it is better than most Hollywood dross. But you can’t beat a good script in my view (have you seen The Guard? QED if so.)

    • Dave Knadler says

      I tried to view it in the context in which it was made — as though spoken dialog were not an option. As such, it was really the first silent film I’d viewed in its entirety. But I can see how it’s not for everyone.

      I’ll keep an eye out for The Guard. Looks like a great cast. I loved Brendan Gleeson in In Bruges.