The Artist (2012) *****

The words outstandingly superb come to mind after watching something so elegant and heart-wrenching..  Because one word of praise just isn’t enough.

The Artist in question is George Valentin (the phenomenal Jean Dujardin).  He is the fictional super star of the Silent era.  Along with his dog (also brilliant and adorable to boot), they shine the brightest amongst their peers. 

Shot almost entirely as a silent motion picture this is Valentin’s story of tragic decline to almost obscurity (because being recognised just isn’t enough when you were once the brightest of stars) and how the two loves of his life bringing him back from the brink of pretty much everything.  The first is the dog and the second, Berenice Bejo’s Peppy Miller.

You almost believe you’re back in the 1920s and 1930s, save for a few familiar faces… and the ladies figures (nothing anyone can do about that and it has no bearing on the film, but it’s glaringly obvious that the likes of Bejo and Missi Pyle do not belong physically).

So, Peppy Miller is just that – Peppy.  And sometimes you just want to smack her because of that.  She is discovered quite literally by accident by our hero Valentin.  Cue instant sparkage.  From there, she follows in her hero’s footsteps, rising in the ranks of the acting world as Valentin declines.

First he loses his job, courtesy of John Goodman’s pompous producer, who’s decided the new era of talkies needs fresh meat.  As Peppy Miller says, or rather subtitles “the old make way for the new.”  Then Valentin loses his loveless marriage to Penelope Ann-Miller and ultimately his dignity.

Ludovic Bource’s score should be considered a star in its own right.  Beautiful in it’s telling of the emotions to partner the visual aspects.  How else is one to know that the characters aren’t being funny, but are masking their pain in self-mockery?  Something clearly not understood by the audience I watched with.  Reading what the characters are saying without listening or feeling the emotive music will make you miss the true meaning of what they are trying to convey. 

Everything about The Artist is truly masterful – a modern masterpiece paying homage to an art from an era long gone.

Everyone was perfectly cast.  From Goodman’s obnoxious producer, James Cromwell’s loyal chauffeur to Missi Pyle’s ludicrous silent star. 

That all said, I couldn’t help thinking of Gene Kelly throughout.  Jean Dujardin looked exactly like him.  He even acted like him – the mannerisms were uncanny!

Thinking of Dujardin as Gene Kelly ultimately led me down the ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ path.  The stories are very similar.  A silent star almost fades away due to an inability to transition to the talkies.  A woman comes along to the aid of said star (albeit Peppy was much more important.  And together they usher in the wonderful era of the musicals. 

Dujardin’s dancing was impeccable!  If I hadn’t known better, I’d have sworn it was Kelly himself tap-dancing away!  It even had the talentless blonde star along with the showing of her ridiculous transition.

But don’t let the similarities put you off, if you are not a fan of musicals.  The Artist is not a musical.  And has a lot more depth to the characters and what they go through… the despair they feel.

The Artist deserves an Oscar and every accolade imaginable.  I would watch it multiple times, would it not drain my finances… so I’ll just have to wait for the DVD just for that.