Outside a movie premiere, enthusiastic fan Peppy Miller literally bumps into the swashbuckling hero of the silent film, George Valentin. The star reacts graciously and Peppy plants a kiss on his cheek as they are surrounded by photographers. However as Peppy slowly rises through the industry, the introduction of talking-pictures turns Valentin's world upside-down. The Artist is a good representation of the early 20's and early 30's unfortunately however is also a pretty slow and painfully boring movie that the best perfomance was from the little dog. (3/10)

This is a good movie, but it typically one that is overrated because it shows some kind of class, intellect and refinement to proclaim itself as genius. The production starts with 3 strikes against it. First, at times, it is a movie within a movie. Second, it is in black and white, and third, it is mostly all silent. With all the rave, I was willing to attempt an open mind viewing (zombie films are sometimes in black and white too).These techniques were done to to give us the flavor of the films of the era. Even though those restored masters are available, who among the 5 star rave reviewers watch them? You could list them on one hand, or maybe one finger. In the silent era, the jokes were visual. The sound track created the mood, more so than it does today, and actors had to make dramatic movements to create emotions. They used their face...a term called "mugging" in the film. This was brilliantly brought out in the film, although we already knew that.The film uses symbolism, such as when our star George Valentin's (Jean Dujardin)career is sinking, it shows him in a film sinking in quicksand. Good yes. Genius? Hardly. The script reminded me of "A Star is Born" (pick one) where a star launches the career of a new star only to see his fade. George is "The Artist" who believes talkies are not art. Besides the studio no longer wants George. They want fresh faces such as rising star Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo).I liked the idea of doing the silent movie film to show us the transition from silent to talkies, I just didn't like the predictable script. Plot is important.No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. You should be able to read lips after this film.

I had this movie on my watch list for at least 5 years but I never got fully persuaded to watch it until now. Funnily enough it took hearing a podcast talking about how it had been forgotten to remind me. And maybe it does have that forget-ability built into to movie but that doesn't mean it is without charm. It's a simple enough story of movies transitioning into the 'talkies' from the silent era and how a man doesn't know how to change with the times.Being a silent movie the visuals and music is all you get so initially a bit jarring. But quickly I found the viewing experience to be engaging in a different way than seeing a modern movie. It enjoyable as a true film rather than just being an homage to that era of film.It is worth seeing despite it quickly fading from the public's memory. It's a fascinating movie but probably only worth one viewing. Sorry George.

Despite finding her sparkling in Populaire and magnificent in The Past since first catching a glimpse in the mutant monster pigs Horror flick Proie,I've never seen Bérénice Bejo in her most famous film. Looking at the Christmas listings,I was pleased to spot the BBC airing the Oscar winner,which led to me listening in on the silence.The plot:1927:At the unveiling of his new blockbuster.movie star auteur George Valentin bumps into Peppy Miller,who he poses with for the press.Seeing her face on the front page,Miller pushes forward to become a star in Hollywood,with a studio soon teaming her up with Valentin. Being the icon of Silent cinema, Valentin can hear nothing on the horizon, until a studio head catches Valentin off- guard with the air-raid siren of the "talkies."View on the film:Tap dancing onto the screen,the beautiful Bérénice Bejo gives a magnetic performance as Miller,thanks to Bejo juggling a sweet empathy towards Valentin to stay on the billboard,with a pure,classic Hollywood glamour Bejo shakes out during the stylish movie-within a movie sequences.Becoming the biggest name in cinema with his grand visions, Jean Dujardin gives a wondrous performance as Valentin, brimming with the near-mythical confidence of the Hollywood legends,which Dujardin impressively threads with a fragility of Valentin's star fading. Whilst James Cromwell & John Goodman make snappy appearances,the late, adorable Uggie runs rings round the feet of the mere humans as the scene-stealing dog.Reuniting with his wife Bejo after bringing the OSS series back,writer/director Michel Hazanavicius lovingly presents a sweet tribute to the Silent era,that can also proudly stand as its own creation. Offering tantalising glimpses to the power Valentin reels, Hazanavicius places Miller and Valentin on the dividing lines of cinema,via Valentin seeing his Silent cinema as (popular) art,and Miller's "talkies" as a plaything for the studios. Hearing the tide begin to turn, Hazanavicius brings the change smartly in focus for Valentin,but keeps a light flicking in the darkness to deliver a shimmering,toe-tapping final,as the artist re-discovers his art.