The Artist (2011)

411 Review
Set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) meets Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), a young dancer waiting for her big break. As the curtain sets on silent cinema and talking pictures become all the rage, George's star fades ad Peppy's rises. Can their love--and George's sanity--survive?

There are two love stories in this film: the one between George and Peppy and, more interestingly, the love story between George and cinema. George and Peppy's love story is predictable, albeit cute and pleasing. George's commitment to the power of flickering images on the screen, however, leads to a gorgeous ode to silent cinema. George might be wrong to sacrifice his career in an effort to protect silent cinema, but the film is right to remind us of the power of film, absent the latest effects and too many rapid fire edits.

The real draw of this film is its luscious love letter to silent cinema, with numerous winks to iconic films that will make the cinephile grin.

101 Review
This is a beautiful film; convincingly acted, flawlessly directed and well (and refreshingly conservatively) edited. For many people in the audience, it will be the first time they have seen a silent film, and The Artiste respects this by drawing on numerous hallmarks of silent film: exaggerated acting, rapid characterizations, fantastic musical accompaniment, dancing, and gorgeous lighting.

However, for those drawn to the power of silent film, there is something missing; the film is gimmicky and a bit shallow. It never draws the viewer in to lose themselves in the film, instead it repeatedly draws attention to the generic markers of silent film. It is not a powerful film, even if it is an amusing one.

For those seeking a conemporary silent film that is a silent film instead of an ode to silent film, I recommend that you check out Guy Maddin's DRACULA (2002), which envelopes the viewer with all the beauty and drama of an early Joan Crawford silent film without ever resorting to homage or gimmick.