I did a rare thing Christmas Weekend 2011, I paid $10.00 for a MATINEE [CAN you BELIEVE IT?!} and actually saw another movie in the theater as opposed to watching them online. Okay if you can read recaps and snap caps and sub caps then this is the movie that allows you everything you need.
I saw The Artist about: A silent film depicting the demise of one actor and the rise of another during the silent film age.
Hands down and unequivocally The Artist is THE Movie of 2011 [And I have seen nearly every movie this year!].
Yes a lesbian blog can sing the praises of a movie targeted to heterosexual audiences that embraces all of the qualities of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Unlike the sex and violence, or “hokey” dance movies that permeates nearly every visual medium we encounter the Artist was the opposite and was storytelling at its best.
There is NO audible dialogue in the movie and the music you hear is because during silent movies there used to be an orchestra that played in accompaniment with the movie. Any words that were spoken were displayed on black “Dialogue” cards.
Full Movie Synopsis [Warning: MAJOR Spoilers included] More After The Jump...
1927
George Valentin is at the Apex of his career as a silent movie star. In fact the movie begins with an audience watching one of his movies, George is behind the movie’s screen. He comes from backstage, thanks his dog co-star 1st much to the chagrin of his human co-star.
The next day while George is taking publicity shots an extra the: “Indomitable” Peppy Miller [Berenice Bejo] inadvertently stumbles into Valentine while trying to retrieve her purse that has fallen. Peppy is an aspiring actress who was used to create a “crowd.”
Later we see Peppy excited to see her photo on the front page of Variety, while George’s wife is less than thrilled to see another woman kissing her husband on the cheek.
George tries to laugh the incident off and does a trick with his dog, but the wife isn’t amused and leaves the room.
We see Peppy auditioning and winning a role as an extra in one of George’s movies, yet when they dance together for the scene their interaction with each other evolves from giggling outtakes to sparks between the two actors.
CUT! George’s attention is diverted and Peppy walks away feeling dejected.
She wanders into George’s dressing room where she slips her arm into one of the “arms’ of George's overcoat and canoodles with it. George walks in and sees her. Peppy is like so many fans who fall for the big movie star.
George approaches her, and this is where you would expect the big screen kiss. As they stare into each other’s eyes George says: “Every actress needs something special” and draws a beauty mark Peppy’s face.
Eventually Peppy signs on as a feature player with George’s studio, one day while she is with two male actor’s she sees George and they strike up a conversation and Peppy tells George that maybe they will make a movie together [Important Clue].
George ask her about the guys she's with and she tells him they are just “Toys” [?]. Before George leaves she writes down her phone number and hands it to him and does the Charleston. As George is walking away, Peppy whistles at him, when he turns around she blows him a kiss.
In time lapse see George watching Peppy’s movies: There is a montage of screen credits that
appear at the end of every movie, and in this movie you notice that Peppy Miller’s name will eventually rise from being a walk on character to the top where she is the lead star.
1929 - Two Years Later
Mr. Zimmer [John Goodman] summons George to his office. He tells George that times are changing and that they are both of a different era, he announces the end of the production of silent films. Valentin is skeptical of this new thing called “Sound” and during “Sound” tests he laughs at the sight of actors speaking live.
Valentin insists that sound is just a fad. As Valentin leaves Zimmer's office, he tells the studio head that he will make his own movie. Valentin embarks on writing and producing his own silent film.
That Afternoon:
At an interview Peppy gives at a Hollywood restaurant, the reporters ask her how does it feel to be “America’s Darling” after such a short time. Miller chalks it up to the fact that she’s popular because people are fascinated that they can hear her, the old ways are over and it’s time to “Make room for the young.”
That’s when George, who was sitting at another table behind her [Having lunch with his
chauffeur Clifton] stands, walks to Peppy and tells her that he’s “made room'” for her and leaves the restaurant.
George completes his film, a jungle adventure but it opens on October 24, the same day as Miller's new sound film, and barely anyone attends George’s movie opening, only a handful of audience members are in attendance and unbeknownst to Valentin so is Peppy Miller, who is sitting high above him in a balcony.
After the movie they encounter each other outside of the theater, and though Peppy seems a bit distant, you sense there’s more there than she’s revealing. As Valentin is walking home he comes across a long line of movie goers waiting to purchase tickets to Peppy’s movie.
George Valentin is ruined, he spent his money to make his own silent movie. To make matters worse the stock market crashes and his wife, Doris (Penelope Ann Miller), leaves him. Penniless he moves in with his valet, Clifton (James Cromwell).
Later, Valentin first pawns a tuxedo for $6.00 and after being reminded that he hasn’t paid his chauffeur if or a year then fires Clifton.
George successfully sells off all of his effects at an auction. Desperate and drunk, Valentin
starts a fire in his office, the only thing he tries to save is a movie reel of when he and Peppy appeared in a scene dancing together and in what is truly an Oscar worthy animal scene his dog gets help running to a policeman, barking at the policeman and playing dead, jumping up and prompting the policeman to follow him where he saves Valentin.
Meanwhile at the movie studio Peppy sees a headline that Valentin survived a fire. She rushes to the hospital where she fights back tears as the doctor’s tell her that he will be fine but needs to rest, she asks the doctors if he can rest at her place, they tell her yes. When Valentin regains consciousness he sees that he is at Peppy’s home and that his former chauffer Clifton is now working for Miller.
Peppy spends time with a recovering George before she tells Valentin she has to go to the studio, she notices how that news saddened George, because there was a time when he was the big star.
While she’s gone George’s dog leads Valentin to a locked room, he unlocks the door where sheets are covering all of his effects, which were purchased by Peppy at the auction where he tried to sell everything! In fact Peppy was always in the background. She was helped by George’s former chauffeur Clifton and was brought to tears that George was auctioning off his belongings. In fact after he purchases all of George’s belongings Clifton actually walks by George at the auction lowering his hat as not to be recognized.
When George discovers that Peppy purchased all of his effects he has a nervous breakdown,
and returns to his burnt out office while Peppy is at the studio insisting that Valentin co-star in her next film, or she will quit Zimmer's company. “It’s either HIM [George] or ME! No, I mean it’s BOTH of Us or NEITHER of Us!”
Miller discovers George is gone from her home and arrives at George’s office, panicked, Valentin was attempting suicide, she stops him.
Peppy and George reconcile, they work on their dance routine, show it to Mr. Zimmer and Zimmer likes it! Peppy and George go on to star in the film she pushed for in a spectacular tap dance sequence, Valentin rising to fame again.
Then and NOW
Here’s the thing,: There was NO Sex in early film. In fact there was barely any kissing. Sex was alluded to and really started being introduced by actress Mae West in the late 20’s and people still slept in twin beds in the 1950’s. Therefore there was no sex and very little sexual sexual innuendo in the 1920’s That’s what made The Artist so good, other than the characters being straight, there wasn’t any flaunting of heterosexuality.
There was no audible dialogue which was refreshing since most of today’s dialogue is pretty shitty. This is a movie for film buffs and those who appreciate great art.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be sitting in a movie theater watching a film that looked like it was made 82 years earlier, and the audience wasn’t comprised of old people, but viewers who ages ranged from the 20’s to late 50’s and unlike the forced loud laughter you experience with modern day comedy, because The Artist is a silent movie there is no need to be all ignorant and loud with the laughter. Sure the audience laughed at the cute and funny scenes but it wasn’t over the top.
The Artist is Destined to win even more awards.
Date of ceremony
Category
Recipient(s)
Result
Alliance of Women Film Journalists[17]
January 10, 2012
Best Film
Pending
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Pending
Best Editing
Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
Pending
Best Film Music or Score
Ludovic Bource
Pending
Unforgettable Moment Award
(the sound of glass clinking on the table)
Pending
American Film Institute[18]
December 11, 2011
AFI Special Awards
Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Award[19]
December 11, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Use of Music in a Film
Ludovic Bource
Won tied with Drive
Cannes Film Festival[20]
May 2011
Palme d'Or
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Won
Palm Dog Award[21]
Uggie
Won
Critics' Choice Movie Awards[22]
January 13, 2012
Best Picture
Pending
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Best Acting Ensemble
Pending
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Pending
Best Art Direction
Laurence Bennett and Gregory S. Hooper
Pending
Best Editing
Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
Pending
Best Costume Design
Mark Bridges
Pending
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource
Pending
Detroit Film Critics Society[23]
December 16, 2011
Best Film
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
European Film Awards[24]
December 3, 2011
Best Film
Nominated
Best European Composer
Ludovic Bource
Won
Best European Cinematographer
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[25]
January 15, 2012
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Pending
Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Best Director - Motion Picture
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource
Pending
Houston Film Critics Society[26]
December 14, 2011
Best Picture
Nominated
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Best Score
Ludovic Bource
Won
Best Foreign Film
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards[27]
February 25, 2012
Best Film
Pending
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Pending
Leeds International Film Festival[28]
November 21, 2011
Official Selection Audience Award
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards[29]
November 29, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
New York Film Critics Online[30]
December 11, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource
Won
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle[31]
December 23, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
San Sebastián International Film Festival[32]
September 2011
Audience Award
Won
Santa Barbara International Film Festival[33]
February 4, 2012
Cinema Vanguard Award
Won
Satellite Awards[34]
December 19, 2011
Best Picture
Nominated
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Best Art Direction and Production Design
Laurence Bennett and Gregory S. Hooper
Won
Best Costume Design
Mark Bridges
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards[35]
January 29, 2012
Best Cast
Pending
Best Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Female Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association[36]
December 5, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Lawrence Bennett and Gregory S. Hooper
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource
I saw The Artist about: A silent film depicting the demise of one actor and the rise of another during the silent film age.
Yes a lesbian blog can sing the praises of a movie targeted to heterosexual audiences that embraces all of the qualities of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Unlike the sex and violence, or “hokey” dance movies that permeates nearly every visual medium we encounter the Artist was the opposite and was storytelling at its best.
There is NO audible dialogue in the movie and the music you hear is because during silent movies there used to be an orchestra that played in accompaniment with the movie. Any words that were spoken were displayed on black “Dialogue” cards.
| Movies are meant to manipulate your emotions, it is the intention of filmmakers to make you: Laugh, Cry, become Frightened, Angry or Sad. That was the challenge that Michael Havanicius faced directing The Artist: A modern day movie using elements not used in over 80 years to achieve and he succeeded. Silent films didn’t have synchronized recorded sound. Therefore without audible dialogue, feelings/emotions had to be transmitted through muted gestures, exaggerated pantomime and title cards. |
Full Movie Synopsis [Warning: MAJOR Spoilers included] More After The Jump...
1927
George Valentin is at the Apex of his career as a silent movie star. In fact the movie begins with an audience watching one of his movies, George is behind the movie’s screen. He comes from backstage, thanks his dog co-star 1st much to the chagrin of his human co-star.
The next day while George is taking publicity shots an extra the: “Indomitable” Peppy Miller [Berenice Bejo] inadvertently stumbles into Valentine while trying to retrieve her purse that has fallen. Peppy is an aspiring actress who was used to create a “crowd.”
Later we see Peppy excited to see her photo on the front page of Variety, while George’s wife is less than thrilled to see another woman kissing her husband on the cheek.
George tries to laugh the incident off and does a trick with his dog, but the wife isn’t amused and leaves the room.
We see Peppy auditioning and winning a role as an extra in one of George’s movies, yet when they dance together for the scene their interaction with each other evolves from giggling outtakes to sparks between the two actors.
CUT! George’s attention is diverted and Peppy walks away feeling dejected.
She wanders into George’s dressing room where she slips her arm into one of the “arms’ of George's overcoat and canoodles with it. George walks in and sees her. Peppy is like so many fans who fall for the big movie star.
George approaches her, and this is where you would expect the big screen kiss. As they stare into each other’s eyes George says: “Every actress needs something special” and draws a beauty mark Peppy’s face.Eventually Peppy signs on as a feature player with George’s studio, one day while she is with two male actor’s she sees George and they strike up a conversation and Peppy tells George that maybe they will make a movie together [Important Clue].
In time lapse see George watching Peppy’s movies: There is a montage of screen credits that
appear at the end of every movie, and in this movie you notice that Peppy Miller’s name will eventually rise from being a walk on character to the top where she is the lead star.1929 - Two Years Later
Mr. Zimmer [John Goodman] summons George to his office. He tells George that times are changing and that they are both of a different era, he announces the end of the production of silent films. Valentin is skeptical of this new thing called “Sound” and during “Sound” tests he laughs at the sight of actors speaking live.
Valentin insists that sound is just a fad. As Valentin leaves Zimmer's office, he tells the studio head that he will make his own movie. Valentin embarks on writing and producing his own silent film.
That Afternoon:
At an interview Peppy gives at a Hollywood restaurant, the reporters ask her how does it feel to be “America’s Darling” after such a short time. Miller chalks it up to the fact that she’s popular because people are fascinated that they can hear her, the old ways are over and it’s time to “Make room for the young.”
That’s when George, who was sitting at another table behind her [Having lunch with his
chauffeur Clifton] stands, walks to Peppy and tells her that he’s “made room'” for her and leaves the restaurant. George completes his film, a jungle adventure but it opens on October 24, the same day as Miller's new sound film, and barely anyone attends George’s movie opening, only a handful of audience members are in attendance and unbeknownst to Valentin so is Peppy Miller, who is sitting high above him in a balcony.
After the movie they encounter each other outside of the theater, and though Peppy seems a bit distant, you sense there’s more there than she’s revealing. As Valentin is walking home he comes across a long line of movie goers waiting to purchase tickets to Peppy’s movie.
George Valentin is ruined, he spent his money to make his own silent movie. To make matters worse the stock market crashes and his wife, Doris (Penelope Ann Miller), leaves him. Penniless he moves in with his valet, Clifton (James Cromwell).
Later, Valentin first pawns a tuxedo for $6.00 and after being reminded that he hasn’t paid his chauffeur if or a year then fires Clifton.
George successfully sells off all of his effects at an auction. Desperate and drunk, Valentin
starts a fire in his office, the only thing he tries to save is a movie reel of when he and Peppy appeared in a scene dancing together and in what is truly an Oscar worthy animal scene his dog gets help running to a policeman, barking at the policeman and playing dead, jumping up and prompting the policeman to follow him where he saves Valentin.Meanwhile at the movie studio Peppy sees a headline that Valentin survived a fire. She rushes to the hospital where she fights back tears as the doctor’s tell her that he will be fine but needs to rest, she asks the doctors if he can rest at her place, they tell her yes. When Valentin regains consciousness he sees that he is at Peppy’s home and that his former chauffer Clifton is now working for Miller.
Peppy spends time with a recovering George before she tells Valentin she has to go to the studio, she notices how that news saddened George, because there was a time when he was the big star.
While she’s gone George’s dog leads Valentin to a locked room, he unlocks the door where sheets are covering all of his effects, which were purchased by Peppy at the auction where he tried to sell everything! In fact Peppy was always in the background. She was helped by George’s former chauffeur Clifton and was brought to tears that George was auctioning off his belongings. In fact after he purchases all of George’s belongings Clifton actually walks by George at the auction lowering his hat as not to be recognized.
When George discovers that Peppy purchased all of his effects he has a nervous breakdown,
and returns to his burnt out office while Peppy is at the studio insisting that Valentin co-star in her next film, or she will quit Zimmer's company. “It’s either HIM [George] or ME! No, I mean it’s BOTH of Us or NEITHER of Us!”Miller discovers George is gone from her home and arrives at George’s office, panicked, Valentin was attempting suicide, she stops him.
Peppy and George reconcile, they work on their dance routine, show it to Mr. Zimmer and Zimmer likes it! Peppy and George go on to star in the film she pushed for in a spectacular tap dance sequence, Valentin rising to fame again.
Here’s the thing,: There was NO Sex in early film. In fact there was barely any kissing. Sex was alluded to and really started being introduced by actress Mae West in the late 20’s and people still slept in twin beds in the 1950’s. Therefore there was no sex and very little sexual sexual innuendo in the 1920’s That’s what made The Artist so good, other than the characters being straight, there wasn’t any flaunting of heterosexuality.
There was no audible dialogue which was refreshing since most of today’s dialogue is pretty shitty. This is a movie for film buffs and those who appreciate great art.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be sitting in a movie theater watching a film that looked like it was made 82 years earlier, and the audience wasn’t comprised of old people, but viewers who ages ranged from the 20’s to late 50’s and unlike the forced loud laughter you experience with modern day comedy, because The Artist is a silent movie there is no need to be all ignorant and loud with the laughter. Sure the audience laughed at the cute and funny scenes but it wasn’t over the top.
The Artist is Destined to win even more awards.
Award
Date of ceremony
Category
Recipient(s)
Result
Alliance of Women Film Journalists[17]
January 10, 2012
Best Film
Pending
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Pending
Best Editing
Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
Pending
Best Film Music or Score
Ludovic Bource
Pending
Unforgettable Moment Award
(the sound of glass clinking on the table)
Pending
American Film Institute[18]
December 11, 2011
AFI Special Awards
Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Award[19]
December 11, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Use of Music in a Film
Ludovic Bource
Won tied with Drive
Cannes Film Festival[20]
May 2011
Palme d'Or
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Won
Palm Dog Award[21]
Uggie
Won
Critics' Choice Movie Awards[22]
January 13, 2012
Best Picture
Pending
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Best Acting Ensemble
Pending
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Pending
Best Art Direction
Laurence Bennett and Gregory S. Hooper
Pending
Best Editing
Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
Pending
Best Costume Design
Mark Bridges
Pending
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource
Pending
Detroit Film Critics Society[23]
December 16, 2011
Best Film
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
European Film Awards[24]
December 3, 2011
Best Film
Nominated
Best European Composer
Ludovic Bource
Won
Best European Cinematographer
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[25]
January 15, 2012
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Pending
Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Best Director - Motion Picture
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource
Pending
Houston Film Critics Society[26]
December 14, 2011
Best Picture
Nominated
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Best Score
Ludovic Bource
Won
Best Foreign Film
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards[27]
February 25, 2012
Best Film
Pending
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Pending
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Pending
Leeds International Film Festival[28]
November 21, 2011
Official Selection Audience Award
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards[29]
November 29, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
New York Film Critics Online[30]
December 11, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource
Won
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle[31]
December 23, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Won
San Sebastián International Film Festival[32]
September 2011
Audience Award
Won
Santa Barbara International Film Festival[33]
February 4, 2012
Cinema Vanguard Award
Won
Satellite Awards[34]
December 19, 2011
Best Picture
Nominated
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Best Art Direction and Production Design
Laurence Bennett and Gregory S. Hooper
Won
Best Costume Design
Mark Bridges
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards[35]
January 29, 2012
Best Cast
Pending
Best Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jean Dujardin
Pending
Best Female Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo
Pending
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association[36]
December 5, 2011
Best Picture
Won
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Nominated
Best Actor
Jean Dujardin
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Lawrence Bennett and Gregory S. Hooper
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Guillaume Schiffman
Nominated
Best Original Score
Ludovic Bource