Movie Review: The Artist (2011)

"The Artist" won Best Picture at the Academy Awards for a reason: this film is that good.  The film is in black and white and largely silent.  The film centers on George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), who is a major film star in silent movies in 1927.  While promoting a movie, George bumps into a fan named Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) and poses for photos with her.  The photos are splashed across the papers the next day leading Peppy to try her hand at fame.  Peppy ends up as a dancer in George's next film and George insists she stay when studio boss Al (John Goodman) sees her thinking she's there to cause trouble.  George gives Peppy advice on acting and draws a beauty mark on her face which becomes her trademark.  There is an instant attraction between the two but George is married so they don't act on it.  Two years later the studio insists on filming only "talkies" and George proudly refuses to take part.  He finances his own silent film while Peppy has been climbing the ranks of Hollywood and embraces the "talkies."  George's film opens the same day Peppy's first film as the star and hers is a huge hit while his is not.  The stock market crashes and George falls on hard times financially and personally.  Peppy, on the other hand, is Hollywood's "It Girl."  The film follows the two while George struggles with his pride and Peppy struggles with her desire to help George.

Though this film is silent and black and white this is an engaging story and I didn't miss the sound at all.  In fact, the soundtrack plus solid acting from the entire cast more than made up for the lack of talking.  Dujardin and Bejo in particular were terrific and did a great job of connecting with the camera and emoting so that the audience doesn't need to hear them.  The music really helped move the film along and set the scenes.  I thought the makeup and costuming was great too especially given that it's black and white.  The story is simple but delivered so elegantly and with charm that it works.  Don't miss the canine star Uggie playing Jack, who does manage to steal more than his share of scenes. 

Overall I say this film is a homerun for the solid acting, good storytelling, music, makeup/costumes, and just simple charm.  Be sure to see this one.  Solid A.