The Artist
Saturday, 24 March 2012 15:45 | 
Written by Prasanth | 
| 
| 
Medium : Silence
Starring : Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell
Director : Michel Hazanavicius
Music : Ludovic Bource
On a Friday, almost five days before the announcement of Oscar Awards, the new movie 'The Artist' got released in my city. The movie was notable as we read that it has got the maximum number of nominations for the Oscars. On the third day, Sunday, after finishing few regional releases, I went to watch 'The Artist', I was surprised and shocked to see that, the movie had left the theaters. The theater staff told that no one came for the show, so we were forced to take the crucial decision.
People started asking me about the review of the same, as the movie was a national release in that week. After few days, when the Oscar Awards was announced, 'The Artist' has received some prestigious wards like the Best Movie, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Background score and Best Costumer. No use, had the theater owners been ready to release it late by a week, then the outcome would have been different. Any way, now the state government body, Kerala Chalachitra Academy is conducting a week long Oscar Film Festival at Sree Padmanabha Theater, in the capital city, starting yesterday, 'The Artist' was the inaugural movie.
The story of 'The Artist' tells about an actor, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), who is in his peak of the movie career in the 1920s. The silent movie trend is fading and the talkies got started. But the actor was refusing to accept the new style. He has produced another silent movie, which was a huge flop. He is forced to left the field. The new entry in the talkies, actress Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), soon reached the hearts of the viewers. At the time of the silent movies itself, she likes Geoge and vice versa; though he left the field, she still lover her. Miller wants to help George, but his
pride and ego had made him adamant, no to accept any compliments from her.
From the first shot itself, one might wonder, whether 'The Artist' is an old movie which is made almost 80+ years before. The back and white visuals without any dialogues, accompanied by background music and crucial dialogues written on screen, tempted you to assume that. When you think and realize the fact that it is a 2011 release, which has got some awards at the latest Oscar Award ceremony, you will feel wonder and thrilled. Director Michel Hazanavicius had done a marvelous job in re-creating the environment in the olden days as it is. To make a movie in an atmosphere, before eight decades and imitating the performances of the artists in that period, is not a simple task. The director has been successful in keeping that style throughout the movie.
The performance of Jean Dujardin in the lead role is extra ordinary. His flexibility in the dance steps are notable. Berenice Bejo also did her part well as the new sensation heroine. Even the dog, the hero's companion, gave a great show. The cinematography and its grading, editing, art, costumes, make up, visual effects etc were in top class form. They all gave an extraordinary performance to give a great support the director. The background score by Ludovic Bource, which is the main backbone of this movie, needs a great round of applause.
Starring : Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell
Director : Michel Hazanavicius
Music : Ludovic Bource
On a Friday, almost five days before the announcement of Oscar Awards, the new movie 'The Artist' got released in my city. The movie was notable as we read that it has got the maximum number of nominations for the Oscars. On the third day, Sunday, after finishing few regional releases, I went to watch 'The Artist', I was surprised and shocked to see that, the movie had left the theaters. The theater staff told that no one came for the show, so we were forced to take the crucial decision.
People started asking me about the review of the same, as the movie was a national release in that week. After few days, when the Oscar Awards was announced, 'The Artist' has received some prestigious wards like the Best Movie, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Background score and Best Costumer. No use, had the theater owners been ready to release it late by a week, then the outcome would have been different. Any way, now the state government body, Kerala Chalachitra Academy is conducting a week long Oscar Film Festival at Sree Padmanabha Theater, in the capital city, starting yesterday, 'The Artist' was the inaugural movie.
The story of 'The Artist' tells about an actor, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), who is in his peak of the movie career in the 1920s. The silent movie trend is fading and the talkies got started. But the actor was refusing to accept the new style. He has produced another silent movie, which was a huge flop. He is forced to left the field. The new entry in the talkies, actress Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), soon reached the hearts of the viewers. At the time of the silent movies itself, she likes Geoge and vice versa; though he left the field, she still lover her. Miller wants to help George, but his
pride and ego had made him adamant, no to accept any compliments from her.From the first shot itself, one might wonder, whether 'The Artist' is an old movie which is made almost 80+ years before. The back and white visuals without any dialogues, accompanied by background music and crucial dialogues written on screen, tempted you to assume that. When you think and realize the fact that it is a 2011 release, which has got some awards at the latest Oscar Award ceremony, you will feel wonder and thrilled. Director Michel Hazanavicius had done a marvelous job in re-creating the environment in the olden days as it is. To make a movie in an atmosphere, before eight decades and imitating the performances of the artists in that period, is not a simple task. The director has been successful in keeping that style throughout the movie.
The performance of Jean Dujardin in the lead role is extra ordinary. His flexibility in the dance steps are notable. Berenice Bejo also did her part well as the new sensation heroine. Even the dog, the hero's companion, gave a great show. The cinematography and its grading, editing, art, costumes, make up, visual effects etc were in top class form. They all gave an extraordinary performance to give a great support the director. The background score by Ludovic Bource, which is the main backbone of this movie, needs a great round of applause.