THE ARTIST 4.0****

I’ll start by saying if you have a Jack Russell Terrier you HAVE to see this film. If you love dogs in general, you will want to see it. Regardless of whether you care about dogs, you SHOULD see this movie. It is a delightful masterpiece.
In case you didn’t t know , this is a black and white film … YES that means NO color. ALSO it is a silent film which … YES means, means NO talking. Most in today’s movie audience have never actually seen a silent film. So the proposed task of sitting through an entire production based on the concept of a silent actor portrayed in a silent movie could be intimidating or more likely a turn off. BUT for those who are willing to try something different, The Artist will provide one of the most entertaining and amazing experiences you’ll have with a movie.

The storyline: George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the king of silent movies in Hollywood in 1927. Audiences just adore everything George is a part of. Along comes Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) who you just know is going to be a huge star someday. George and Peppy work together on one film as George not only takes her under his wing, but an undeniable spark develops between the two. Over the course of the next few years, silent movies fade into obscurity as talking pictures or "talkies" explode onto the scene. George finds himself out of work, a has-been, and decides to prove the world wrong by making his own silent film which turns out to be a disaster.. All the while, Peppy finds herself as the new face of the talking Hollywood era. From here The Artist weaves a wonderfully spirited portrayal of a man who has it all, loses what he loves, and must come to terms with what his life can be.
The Artist is funny and charming right out the gate. Jean Dujardin really plays to the crowd and appears to love nothing more than catering to the people who come to see his films. George's dog Jack might be the best form of comic relief seen in a while along with being one of the cutest dogs you’ll ever see in a movie. The laughs are there, the charms are there. The Artist has a firm grip on your heart and your attention and never lets go.

The Artist is memorable in just about every way, especially in its remarkable recreation of an era long gone. Film has evolved so much over the decades, but somehow everyone involved here was able to transport themselves and the audience back to the silent era. With this, we were given a gift of a film that one hundred percent feels like it comes to us from another time period. With a bounty of instantly classic scenes, from the dancing legs to the climatic "Look what you've become...", this is a true winner that is an absolute crowd-pleaser. . I have to admit that it didn't seem like the kind of film I would like, but it absolutely won me over in every way.
You have to marvel at how such a large step backward could end up being such a monumental leap forward . You will laugh, you will cry. But mostly laugh. After watching this film, I was smitten by its distinct and appealing character. It is a fabulous movie.
This film was SO good it left me “speechless” ( I know… a groaner but I just couldn’t pass it up).

Clark