te films made out in the recent years, but not in silent. They do it so the movie looks good in a certain way. Take it Ed Wood perhaps or Good night and Good luck. Throw Sin City as well but not fully black and white.. Certainly the black and white shoots looks great at it.Anyway, I saw this trailer online and I was fascinated that there is a film in black and white and silent.. But the music is simply nostalgic, and the title is The Artist.. I said to myself that I should watch that, because at recent times, nobody really dare to make black and white film in a period which indeed, black and white silent flicks exist.
After winning Oscars this year and some months, even it has free screening here at the French Film Fest which I sorely missed.. I just watched it last night. It was an amazing experience. Others call it well, overrated but the question is, can they think a film made almost like that in these past what decades? Any film almost with that same nostalgic feel?
Story goes that a certain big movie star George Valentin, very successful in his silent film hits.. Living a full life, with everything at his grasp.. Famous and everybody seems to love him whatever he does in the screen. Then one time while everybody wants to have a picture of him, one dashing lady accidentally drops her notebook, came out from the crowd and shocked she has a picture with George Valentin. Given that rare chance, she kissed him and became a headline. Her name is Peppy Miller.
Then the lovable story goes along as the arrival of the Sound recording for films, George seems to be not impressed with it. He felt comfortable doing silent flicks than hearing his voice in the screen. He laughed at that idea. However, the film boss, was shocked saying it's the future of films. George seems not interested on it. Peppy on the other hand, after a simple but great dancing audition rose from a back up dancer to a superstar in the silent films, then jumped to a megastar in the talking movies..
One day as the film boss decided to cut the silent movies and moves forward with the talkies, he also decided to cut George in the list of the film companies stars. Saying that out the old, in the new.. And yes, talking movies. George got upset and left the film company.. He promised that he will do better in his own style which silent movie than the company's talking film..
Ah yes, George has a loving wife which pursuing George to move in the new genre but well.. Pride seems eating up George personality. Peppy is getting famous all through out and one evening as she doing an interview in a restaurant, she said that out the silent films and in with the talkies, without knowing, George is at her back.. Calmly George agreed what she said and left. George just finished his film using all his money, then bad news came as stock market crashed, losing a lot of his fortune. He is betting that his film will earn and make it big.
The day came for the showing of his film and yes, the biggest competitor is Peppy Miller.. George's film flopped big time and Peppy's film overwhelmed everybody with her performance. George got broke for years, got depressed and almost burned his house.. He was saved by his adorable dog. However, he lost everything already, his big house, even his wife left home, no work.. Even selling everything he has.. Drinking a lot and very depressed.
Peppy saw George and deeply sad what happened to him, take care of him for a while. Unfortunately, George saw his old possessions even the house he's into, was purchased by Peppy.. All his things were kept in a store room, even his big painting of his.. Deeply shocked and can't accept what happened, he went to his old house, look for his gun and well, try to shoot himself. Peppy rushed her way into George's old home and yeah, save George's life in the right time.. George's afraid to try but Peppy gave him a reason to try..
They dance their way to success in their new film, full time, together! What a way to end a film.. And yes, they uttered a very few words. At last!
After an hour and a half of watching this.. I felt relieved and refreshed. Why? Because of the whole film just have the right plot about failing and going up again to move forward and do the right thing.. Just go with the flow and change, better things will be with you!
The only minor flaw I saw in this film, but it's forgivable... Hmmmm I do hope they uttered the words Love, or just show they love each other. I do see Peppy love George but seems George loves acting.. Although forgivable, it's a really great love story if it shows that way.. Like Lost In Translation type of love story, it's a better one type of story.. But that's fine, I love how this movie just delivered..
First thing I love in this film, was the music.. I was surprised that the musical score director according to imdb, was not even formally trained. Meaning he just knew jazz and just the feel of the old days, just put the right melody and music in the film, in every scene.. It worked!!! From the happy times of the film, even the depressing times of George, every note was right in the film.. That's very difficult and requires talent to do such feat. Kudos to him, the film made memorable from start to finish. I love the final music dance sequence, very nostalgic, gave homage to somewhat singin in the rain type of film, even it's just in the 1930's.
Another big thing I love was the actors themselves. From John Goodman, James Cromwell, brief appearance of Malcom McDowell, Penelope Ann Miller and yes, like I use to say, I'm not fond of dogs, but I love the dog in this movie. Very smart and talented, I love the part he saved George from the fire. =) John Goodman, yeah great role for him as the boss... All the actors even the extras involved in this film. I love one scene that it shows the stairs, all the people seems to be normal, just walking all the halls.. Then of course, Jean Dujardin, well.. He's the best actor, nuff said.. He showed his emotions even without hearing his words, from very proud and jolly guy to the depressed person, that's skill I can say.. Damn, he looks like Marlon Brando in his younger years, I forgot another actor that looks like him, but well.. His performance magical!! I do hope he can easily conform with the present technology in films, I hope he has a good voice. I'll see that in his other films.. The award definitely for him.. Bernice Bejo, well... I'm quite speechless in her role.. Wow, typical 20's moviestar and how she dances and moves, how can you not like the gal. Although she did not win, but definitely a worthy contender.. A great role for her, and yeah.. Surprisingly, I thought she was really an american actress in the 20's.
Another thing that suprised me, that those 2 lead actors were not amercians. Jean is French, Bernice is Argentinian but brought up in France, meaning, she's French.. Give kudos to those make up artist for making them look up american.. And costume designer as well..
Speaking of other aspects of the film being great, got to really give credit to the director, Michel! I can't spell his last name sorry... That's why Bernice was very inspired doing the film, your husband is a great director! =) From editing which he did, and yes, how the camera angles done for the film, like 20-30's style indeed!!! No zooming or even track shots, simply nostalgic old school filmaking. Yes, definitely no 3D!
No wonder, he beats out the other directors in the award and how he manages all the aspects of the film. He done it perfectly to let the audience know that, it is the 20-30's period of the film.. I love the very details of the film, like posters, cars, how the scene ends.. Every little thing of what I see in the film, gives me really a nostalgic experience. I hope that this will not be the last film from him or even the actors I mentioned, the lead actors.. Because of this film, from bunch of unknown in mainstream, they've become mainstream overnight!!!
Even the poster, quite suprising, I thought it was a lost poster in time.. Simply beauty of shades of black and white! =)
I can't help but to really love this film and yes, it become an instant classic to me.. Because it's just simply great film, after all these technology advances in the film we have now.. At least, we have one film that recognizes the ingenuinity of the past even without the advances.. Simply making a film that will bring delight to many.
A film that shows looking back to where all started, it started indeed...
In a silent black and white film that only shows what's inside through the actor's heart..
No comments:
Post a Comment