Hollywood’s silent film era is remembered fondly by cinephiles. When we think of that cinematic era, we conjure images of Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and Lillian Gish. We recall the brilliant physical comedy, the swashbuckling adventures full of crazy stunts, or the sweeping romances. Romanticism was alive in that era.
However, many of those same cinephiles see silent film as an antiquated method of telling a story. What does that bygone era have to tell us now? Sometimes people forget that film is a visual medium, one that requires an artist to show us emotion, action, and story. Today’s film industry (And film fans) would be stronger if they looked at that historic time.
The Artist is not only a beautiful tribute to Hollywood’s silent era, it is also a moving story about love, our dreams, and how they sometimes have to change. Great performances by Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, creative use of sound, and innovative ways to use visual storytelling make this not only a great throwback, but also a great film for any era.
Changing Eras, Rising Stars
In 1927, George Valentin (Dujardin) is at the top of his game in Hollywood’s silent movie industry. The cinematic idol is a charming man confident that he can still have a career as the industry moves towards sound films. He meets aspiring actress Peppy Miller (Bejo) by accident, and the two are drawn to each other over the years. However, as Peppy’s star rises, George’s fades and his pride does not allow him to adapt to a changing world.
The Artist’s story is deceptively simple. The plot does revolve on a “boy meets girl” narrative that does not hold many surprises, but that would be dismissive. For one, the love story between Peppy and George is handled maturely and takes place over a number of years. George falls slowly and seems genuinely surprised by his attraction while Peppy does her best to subtly show her affection in interesting ways.
The Artist has genuine emotion whenever it focuses on George. Dujardin is magnificent portraying a matinee idol modeled after Douglas Fairbanks who can also mug for the camera like Buster Keaton. He manages to balance a great understanding of comedic timing with some serious emotional moments throughout the film. He aces the comedy, especially with his hyper expressive face, but when we see the pain from his fall from grace, it is truly heartbreaking.
Dujardin has one of the most expressive faces I have seen in film and his performance is pitch perfect. He never says a word and yet we know exactly what he is thinking or feeling at all times. He can express that all too familiar feeling of falling in love and being puzzled by it as he talks with Peppy on a stairwell (My personal favorite scene in the film), while also despairing as he watches his old films. Dujardin captures George’s pride perfectly as he refuses to change. He clings to the old ways so much that he loses sight of his true love, creating film.
It takes the love of Bejo’s Peppy to snap George out of it. More than just a pretty face, Peppy is a confident and feisty woman who knows exactly what she wants. Bojo maintains that character’s confidence throughout, while also showing genuine love for George in the quiet moments the two share. She does not mug for the camera like Dujardin, but she manages to convey the mix of emotions she feels as she watches someone she cares about fall.
James Cromwell probably has the largest role of the supporting cast as George’s chauffeur and friend Clifton, and he does a great job as George’s conscience. John Goodman has some fun moments as the head of George’s film studio as well. But high praise should be given to George’s four legged best friend The Dog. He shares some of the funnier moments with Dujardin.
The Silent Era Today
Director Michel Hazanavicius and cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman make a point to only utilize techniques available to the filmmakers of the silent era in The Artist. There are no hand held shots, moving close ups, and other modern traditions that we are used to seeing. It is a fun way to film a movie and they use it in conventional and creative ways. Because the cameras are normally stationary or on a track during the silent era, it allows Hazanavicius to truly showcase his actors and their physicality.
Both Dujardin and Bejo are gifted dancers and we see every moment of it. Their set pieces are right out of classic Hollywood, both silent and from the height of Hollywood’s musical era. It is a little weird to have the timeline “jump” like that, but it is so enjoyable it can be forgiven.
Composer Ludovic Bource creates an emotive score that harkens back to classic Hollywood. He takes familiar music and weaves it throughout his own soundtrack. In the Stairs, the track that plays during my favorite scene in the film, is both melancholy and heart swelling. The music is used throughout the film during the painful scenes or the joyful ones. It is a mark of a great soundtrack.
But The Artist’s greatest filmmaking achievement is the way it plays with sound. That sounds like a strange thing since this is a tribute to silent films. But remember, the story takes place during the transition to sound, so the filmmakers find creative ways to insert sound. The first time George sees a sound film, we do not hear it. It is a strange choice, but it makes sense…why just tell us when the film can show us?
In a brilliant sequence, George dreams of a world full of sound. He (And the audience) hear objects dropping. The sound of the wind, footsteps and even a feather dropping are deafening for George and it perfectly showcases his fears about the transition. It is a fun way to continue the silent film storytelling tradition.
Sound continues to creep in throughout The Artist, culminating in an outstanding conclusion that brings all of those hints together. The filmmakers truly understand how to build towards a satisfying ending with their use of sound and vision.
Love and Art
The Artist could have easily been a simple love story, one that idolized the classic romances from Hollywood’s Golden Age. And while it does capture the magic of silent film, it is also an exploration of a man’s fall from grace. Sometimes our pride gets in the way of seeing the truth about our situation, and we often need something to snap us out of it. For George, it is the love of Peppy, a determined woman. But the film seems to say that it can come from anywhere.
Love, whether it is for another person or our life long dreams, can blind us. The Artist tells us that sometimes another love can help us find our way.
SCORE: 10 OUT OF 10