Review №3

Artist

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius

Produced by Thomas Langmann

Written by Michel Hazanavicius
Starring         Jean Dujardin
                         Bérénice Bejo

Music by           Ludovic Bource

Cinematography Guillaume Schiffman

Editing by            Anne-Sophie Bion
                           Michel Hazanavicius
Studio             La Petite Reine
                            ARP Sélection


Distributed by Warner Bros. (France)
The Weinstein Company(US/AUS)
Entertainment Film Distributors (UK)

Plot

Hollywood, 1927. Silent film star George Valentin accidently gets acquaintantec with a young pretty woman, Peppy Miller, on the premier of his latest film. The girl bumps into him while he is posing for pictures. However, Velantin considers it as a joke and takes her to pose with him. Next day, these photos are placed on the first pages of all famous newspapers. Thanks to Valentin,  Peppy is accepted to be a dancer in a film and have a part in Kinograph Studios' next production. Later, platonic relationships are established between them and Valentin becomes a mentor for Peppy, helping her with the world of cinema. Two years later, the studio boss, Al Zimmer, announces avout the end of silent cinema era which is gradually replaced by sound ones. However, Valentin disagrees and decides to produce his own silent film as a protest but the premier of his film clashes with the premier of the sound film stared by Peppy. As a result Valentin’s creation comes a cropper. Being unable to bear all these troubles, he had bout of heavy drinking. Soon, fire happens in the house and he is rescued and hospitalized. Finding out it, Peppy takes care of Valentin and takes him to her home. She asks Al Zimmer to take Valentin to co star in her next film and finally Al Zimmer agrees.

Direction

The film skillfully directed by Michel Hazanavicius is a French film director, producer and screenwriter. He is mainly known the film “Artist”. His idea to direct the contemporary film about silent cinema is worth discussing, and he perfectly conveys the atmosphere of that time by both actors’ performance and skilful producing. They say that success is conditioned by unusual way of producing, but I think that the high level of Hazanavicius’ film team in the head of the producer himself results in a film which  was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five. He doesn’t use any electronic means, thus making his film simpler, thus making the viewers to come back to the cradle of cinematography.

Actors’ performance

I’d like to consider the actors’ performance from very unusual point of view. It is caused by the fact that the movie is the silent one, thus the responsibility of the cast for the success of failure of the film raises greatly. Here, there is no possibility to rely on special effects or something like that. All emotions and thought are conveyed through gestures, mimicry and faces…I think that is the main salt of this film which makes him unique and so popular. The highest acting skills are perfectly illustrated on Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo’s examples. They make you to consider this film not as you used to…it really has a sole…it immediately strikes your eyes… and it is achieved through their talent to convey their emotions relying only on their skills. Undoubtedly, it can not be overestimated.

Costume Design

Costume design is also worth talking about. There are variety of them and all of them catch a viewer’s eye and pay your attention. You may feel what colours are they, thus it is another advantage of the film, which makes you not only think but also imagine according to your own views and considerations. In spite of the beauty and greatness of the costumes, which are represented sometimes by their simplicity, sometimes by their luxury, they don’t override the actors. They somehow help them to express feelings, thus being very suitable addition to this or that actors’ look. Costumes help you to feel the atmosphere of that time more deeply.

My impression

I definitely like this film. First of all, I have chosen it after reading synopsis which has awoken my interest. (Silent movie about silent movie – sounds strange and designing). And now, after watching, there is no doubt, it as really worth watching! The main thing which may attract me in my life is peculiarity of something. I have found a plenty of them in this movie! What makes it more interesting, that in fact I can’t name what they are. You should watch it and then understand me for sure. It is full of ironical sense which lacks by the majority of today’s “blog busters”. It is not too serious, it is not to pompous, just to the point! My statements are very vague, I know, but watch it, and you will know what I mean.