“The Artist” is a lovely work of art; a remarkable and unique homage to a bygone era at the movies. It’s also gimmicky and lighter than air and thus really worthy of the Best Picture talk the film has garnered in recent months. I have nothing against “The Artist;” I consider myself a fan of the film, but I don’t buy it as the best picture of the year.
One Star Falls as Another Star Rises
George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is one of the biggest stars in all of silent film. His adventures are thrilling; his romances are enthralling and his comedy leaves’em rolling in the aisles. George is a Hollywood icon when we meet him in “The Artist” but that is all soon to change with talking pictures on the horizon.
For now however, George remains such a huge star that when an aspiring actress leaps into a photo with him and plants a kiss on his cheek she becomes an overnight sensation. The girl is Penny Miller and while she’s adorable it masks an ambition to be a big star. Over the course of The Artist Penny and George will pass each other as her star rises and his star falls.
A Work of Great Beauty
Director Michel Hazanivicius has an extraordinary artistic vision. One truly beautiful example of that artistry is a scene set on the stairs of an agent’s office. The camera is positioned at a distance to capture several floors with the stairs in the forefront and many people making their way up and down. George happens to be heading down while Penny is going up and when they meet in the middle a fantastic bit of choreography keeps the scene buzzing with life.
That’s merely one of a few flawless scenes in “The Artist.” So, why am I resistant to “The Artist” as a Best Picture contender? The film is extraordinarily light on drama. Even a scene in which George’s life is truly at stake never gains any emotional weight because the scene is played with George’s dog pulling a Lassie which is both cute and comical even as George’s life hangs in the balance.
All Style, Little Substance
There is no suspense in where George and Penny are headed, even as George’s career is unquestionably limited by the arrival of the talking picture for reasons I will leave you to discover. The Artist is beautiful but beyond the beauty there no resonant themes, no deeper points, nor is the film funny enough or smart enough to get by solely on charm like many past comedy nominees.
I certainly recommend “The Artist;” the film is wildly entertaining and very often quite beautiful. I simply require more substance from a movie competing for Best Picture and “The Artist” is greatly lacking in that department.