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
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