MOVIE REVIEW: The Artist (2011)

Vintage cinema rarely resurfaces and becomes an outright hit, and that's perhaps one of the reasons why some people (or film snobs, if you will) who I know saw The Artist were scratching their heads when the film won Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards. I'm happy to report that the honors the film has received over the past year are undisputably deserved. The film is much more than a revisionist gimmick that employs a now-obsolete silent-filmmaking technique; it is a comment on the changing social structure of the time, amidst the advent of modern technology. In this case, the catalyst is sound in film, or "talking pictures." And while the film is unsurprisingly thin on plot, I find it simply amazing that the director made a choice to aesthetically revive the old techniques of the silent era.

In 1927, George Valentin is the top actor in silent film, in Hollywood. Soon he meets Peppy Miller, a budding starlet who is about to transition into "talking pictures" at the advent of the sound era. Like many others of the time, George dismisses "talkies" as a mere novelty with little artistic merit, but the innovation takes Hollywood by storm and while Peppy's career skyrockets, George's stagnates in light of the changing times. It's a simple story about tradition, and ultimately redemption.

And aside from the story, this is a meticulously shot picture that duplicates so many elements of silent film to a tee, right down to opening credits, that it has a great "like-you-were-there"-kind of quality. The music also plays an important role, being one of the only "sounds" the audience can actually depend upon. The composer does a wonderful job by utilizing the score to heighten moods and emphasize some of the physical comedy. Being a silent film, the creators have the added challenge of stretching the actors beyond words and depending on physicality and subtle imagery in order to get a point across. It pays off, mostly because while it's not Chaplin or Keaton, the slapstick is very restrained and sensible. Most especially enjoyable are the moments between George and his precocious dog.

As much as everything in The Artist is brilliant, the plot itself is nothing new. It's simply a revisiting of the typical "rise-and-fall" story in the context of a revisited film technique, augmented thematically by the film's intentional technical limitations. That doesn't mean the film is any less enjoyable, just don't go in expecting a completely original story. Although, overall, it was a treat to see The Artist as a new entry in revisionist cinema. I definitely plan on watching it again.

9/10

Peace,
- Jon

MOVIE REVIEW: Prometheus (2012)

The biggest controversy surrounding Ridley Scott's latest, Prometheus, is if the film is really a prequel to Alien or not. The best answer I can give while trying to ride a fine-line of spoiling too much is: "There's strong evidence that the film is a prequel to Alien"). Not that I was dying to know while watching it, but the films do share commonality with the notable plot points that occured in Alien. While Prometheus wasn't really anything groundbreaking for me, I still enjoyed it for thought-provoking entertainment.

A team of scientists stumble upon evidence linking early human civilizations to one another, in spite of existing in different areas of the globe. They track the message to a jungle planet, and encounter an underwater cave that was once populated by an alien species who happen to be the true ancestors of homo sapiens. But as with all science, the team has lots of questions and little answers, and the consequence of curiosity happens to manifest by some deadly encounters and turncoat conspiracies.

This was a hard film for me to rate; the production values for Prometheus are top notch, but why oh why did the story take such an ambiguous lull by the film's third act? The most obvious answer might be "so that they can have a sequel." Yet, for me, there was so much build up and potential for the film to bank on making me walk away shaken and stirred about the fate of humanity, that instead, I only felt "hmm, that was cool!" My other guess is along the way, the studio shaved off a few minutes of plot, as what often happens with Mr. Scott's work. An extended cut on DVD seems very possible down the line, and could rectify the loose ends. I'm not saying every film needs to explain for itself, but with Prometheus, the story and premise were so fascinating that it almost seemed necessary.

On the plus side, Prometheus has a lot of aesthetic appeal going for it. The unmistakable H.R. Geiger set designs evoke that unsettling, organic feel that made the Alien saga so cool. The suspense and special effects are handled very subtly and conservatively; there are certainly enough moments in the film that will impress and shock at the same time, perhaps even both. I predict at least an award nomination or two in the effects or art department, come next spring.

Finally, if you have any reason to see a film in 3D, I'm happy to report that Prometheus is absolutley worth it! You don't necessarily miss out on any "money shots" by seeing it in 2D, but Scott keeps the effects subtle, much like Avatar. Here where the atmosphere, holographic computer screens and other elements of these strange new worlds manifest. Where some films you end up spending over $10, and the effects are far and few in-between, Prometheus features constant atmospheric effects that bring a strong vividness to the picture. Definitely worth checking out.

7/10

Peace,
- Jon