The Artist

It's 1927 and George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the most famous silent film star of the era.  After a preview of his latest movie, he literally bumps into Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), a young ingenue eager to get into the business.   In 1929 movie mogul Al Zimmer (John Goodman) declares that "talkies" are the future and Valentin's career is over.  With the stock market crash occuring, Valentin sees his career spiral into oblivion while Peppy becomes the new toast of Hollywood.

Who would have thought that in 2011 one of the best pictures of the year would not only be black and white, but silent!  Writer/Director Michel Hazanavicius has created a bonbon of a Valentine to the silent era of film and also created one of the best pictures of the year.  The casting is impeccable- Dujardin is a classic Douglas Fairbanks type, and Bejo is charming as the ingenue.  John Goodman is at his bombastic best as the movie mogul, and James Cromwell is perfect as Valentin's chauffer/valet.  And wait until you see the scenes with Uggs, the dog.  The detail that went into the film to recreate the verisimilitude of silent era Hollywood is amazing: the set design, the costumes, the lighting, and the score (although the film does copy the love theme from "Vertigo" for an emotional moment of the picture.)

2011 will be known as the year we saw two great homages to the silent era: "Hugo" and "The Artist."  And if you don't think people will sit through a black and white silent film, think again.  We saw it at the Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg, and the audience applauded at the end of the film.

Nominated for Best Actor, Supporting Actress, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Score, Original Screenplay, Director, and Best Picture.

CinaJims review:  Run right out to see this!  It will leave you tapping your toes and grinning from ear to ear!

Coming attraction:  A CinaJim pic- The Fall