style and subject
The Artist is a contemporary silent film that speaks volumes
Jan 5, 2012 | 9:15 am
Robust orchestrations, pitch-perfect characterization and playful visual storytelling reeled me in as I watched the award-winning film, The Artist, written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius. The silent French film, which contains no spoken dialogue, features a romance between silent film veteran George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and the naive, yet ambitious actress Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), whose career flourishes as talkies take the country and silent films become passé.
The industry doesn’t fair so well for Valentin, however, whose success crumbles as fast as Miller’s star rises.
Although the romantic storyline proved enticing enough, what I found more interesting was how the story unfolded in the well-executed contemporary silent film style.
Ironically, Hazanavicius chose to set his silent film remake in Hollywood as the industry is taking its final bow. This decision creates an interesting dynamic between the film’s style and the film’s subject. What better way to tell the story of the death of silent film than by resurrecting silent film itself?
This film is as much about print journalism, the railroad industry and The Ziegfeld Follies as it is about silent film.
The combination leads to deliciously self-aware moments in the film, like when ex-star Valentin “overhears” Miller in an interview berating old Hollywood and reducing silent film acting to simply “mugging.”
But the acting in The Artist is much more than mugging. Dujardin, Bejo and John Goodman (who plays a stubborn Hollywood exec) all create delightfully large yet realistic characters, who move grandly and gracefully across the screen. Yet, somewhat betraying the style, some of the facial subtleties in these performances are what give the film a real heartbeat, like a close-up on a coy smile.
At first glance, The Artist is a whimsical pastiche, though with a more critical lens one might also see a broader narrative. By following Miller’s rise to fame and Valentin’s simultaneous fall, The Artist explores the tragedy and beauty of evolving crafts and art forms and the careers that are ruined in the fray. In that way, the film is as much about print journalism, the railroad industry and The Ziegfeld Follies as it is about silent film.
The Artist gives voice not only to silent film stars, but all silenced artists. The story might be slow moving for those without an appreciation for the classics, but anybody with a soft-spot for the art of storytelling must make a trip to the theater soon. The nostalgic experience just won’t be as powerful on DVD.
The Artist is currently showing at Landmark River Oaks Theatre, located at 2009 West Gray.
