In this era of cookie-cutter moviemaking that generally depends on high-tech explosions or low-brow humor, a film like "The Artist" is like a creative breath of fresh air blowing away the fog of floundering filmmaking. It's ironic that a movie that goes back to the basics of Hollywood's silent era would seem so new and fresh.
The nearly silent film from writer/director Michel Hazanavicius has been the darling of major film festivals since its debut at Cannes last spring. Through stunning black-and-white imagery and a beautiful soundtrack, "The Artist" pulls the audience into a simple story of fame, pride and redemption.George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the king of silent cinema in 1927. He can only stand silently by as his career fades away with the arrival of talkies. While his career dies, a young ingenue (Bérénice Bejo) becomes a star.Hazanavicius doesn't have his actors perform in the exaggerated style of the silent era, which gives the performances by Dujardin and Bejo a contemporary feel despite the retro style of delivery.Dujardin commands the screen with his matinee good looks and charming smile. Because there are no words, Dujardin must portray the joy and despair his character faces through his face and eyes. He does it with such jeux de vie that his performance is captivating. He's a lock for an Oscar nomination.The performances are accented by the original score by Ludovic Bource. Without dialogue, the score becomes ultra important. Bource's mix of jaunty tunes and haunting melodies are as critical to setting the mood and tone for the film as the performances by the actors.The film features a supporting cast that includes John Goodman, James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller, but it is Uggie, a Jack Russell terrier, who steals every scene. If there was an Oscar for Best Animal Performance, Uggie would be the winner.It would have been easy for "The Artist" to become little more than a novelty film. Hazanavicius avoids that fate by making a film that is so accomplished in its look and sound that no words were needed. He shows that silence can be more powerful than any on-screen explosion.