If there was ever a film that completely sweeps up every award at the Oscars, and entirely deserves it, it would be The Artist.
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the French silent film is in every way, nostalgic and authentic in its artistic creation. Starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo in the lead roles, the film takes place during the 1920's and early 1930's of the Hollywood film industry, documenting the transition from silent films into the era of the talkies.
George Valentin(Jean Dujardin) is a silent film star who is attending the premiere of his latest film, "A Russian Affair" in Hollywood 1927. Following the film's screening, he steps out of the theatre for photos for the press. When a young female fan, Peppy Miller(Bérénice Bejo) accidentally stumbles out into Valentin's spotlight during his photoshoot, she lands herself on the front cover of Variety and instantly becomes the talk of the town. As Peppy continues to garner more attention first with the photo and later with an audition for a film that George Valentin is the star of, their friendship is put to the test when the silent film era comes to a close. As the stock-market crash in 1929 hits, Valentin finds his career coming to an end, while Miller herself becomes the leading lady to the public.
Words cannot even begin to describe how marvelous The Artist is. Jean Dujardin gives a commanding performance in the role of George Valentin, and Bérénice Bejo is equally adorable as she is talented in the role of Peppy Miller. Their onscreen chemistry is impenetrable, and has audiences so emotionally engaged in both of their character's journey throughout the film. Their talent is further proven to be indestructible when the two perform a spectacular tap dance number in the film.
The cinematography and screenplay also helps create the tone of the film, and when being watched in a theatre it makes you forget that you are living in the 21st century. The film transports you back to the days when big budget special effects and 3-D was not necessary in making a movie good or crowd pleasing. The artistic beauty of the film in and of itself is a tribute to the cinematic arts, and a worthy one. Further, the musical score composed by Ludovic Bource entirely corresponds with the narrative of the film and drives the emotional aspect of the film forward.
The Artist is a magnificent work of art that proves that you don't need all of the modern technology used today in many films to create a spectacle. But what it also goes to show is that the art of filmmaking is timeless, and something that was raved about many years ago can still be a hit in the present.
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