Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 10/25/2011 (Limited) 12/23/2011 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated PG-13 for a disturbing image and a crude gesture Running Time 100 Minutes Genre Romance, Drama Director Michel Hazanavicius Writer Michel Hazanavicius Cast Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, Malcolm McDowell, John Goodman, Missi Pyle, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller Studio The Weinstein Company |
THE ARTIST (2011)
SYNOPSIS
Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a
silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will
sound the death knell for his career and see him fall
into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice
Bejo), it seems the sky's the limit - major movie
stardom awaits. The Artist tells the story of their
interlinked destinies. -- (C) Weinstein
Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a
silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will
sound the death knell for his career and see him fall
into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice
Bejo), it seems the sky's the limit - major movie
stardom awaits. The Artist tells the story of their
interlinked destinies. -- (C) Weinstein
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
In todays technologically savvy world and films constantly trying to top one another with high tech
special effects; it’s hard to believe a silent movie filmed in black and white would be so delightfully
entertaining. French Writer/Director Michel Hazanavicius, along with the contagious and dazzling
smiles of French actors Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) and Berenice Bejo (rightfully named
Peppy Miller),The Artist, takes audiences back to the charming era of old Hollywood. The story is
about Valentin, a silent actor in 1927, who just has to flash a smile to get entire audiences to melt
around him, accidentally bumps into the peppy, Peppy Miller. Instantly, they have an attraction to
one another and with Valentin’s help Miller becomes the next Hollywood starlet. Unable to act on
their feelings due to Valentin’s loveless marriage to his wife, Doris (Penelope Ann Miller) they
slowly drift apart from one another. Miller’s beauty, infectious smile and upbeat personality then
steal the spotlight and her readiness to adjust with the times (moving from silent films to “talkies”)
skyrockets her career while Valentin, who thinks “talkies” is just a fad, refuses to adjust and his
career instantly plummets. He then starts on a downward spiral of drinking and is almost
completely forgotten when Miller comes to his rescue with a film opportunity and once again their
smiles steal the show. The outstanding score moves the film from scene to scene with such
emotion that it’s hard to imagine why silent films lost their edge and Hazanavicius uses the music
so brilliantly to tell the story that you can’t help but enjoy this movie. While the story may be one
that has been told over and over again, between Hazanavicius vision, the enchanting score, and
the dazzling smiles of Dujardin and Bejo, this film is as fresh as they come.
special effects; it’s hard to believe a silent movie filmed in black and white would be so delightfully
entertaining. French Writer/Director Michel Hazanavicius, along with the contagious and dazzling
smiles of French actors Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) and Berenice Bejo (rightfully named
Peppy Miller),The Artist, takes audiences back to the charming era of old Hollywood. The story is
about Valentin, a silent actor in 1927, who just has to flash a smile to get entire audiences to melt
around him, accidentally bumps into the peppy, Peppy Miller. Instantly, they have an attraction to
one another and with Valentin’s help Miller becomes the next Hollywood starlet. Unable to act on
their feelings due to Valentin’s loveless marriage to his wife, Doris (Penelope Ann Miller) they
slowly drift apart from one another. Miller’s beauty, infectious smile and upbeat personality then
steal the spotlight and her readiness to adjust with the times (moving from silent films to “talkies”)
skyrockets her career while Valentin, who thinks “talkies” is just a fad, refuses to adjust and his
career instantly plummets. He then starts on a downward spiral of drinking and is almost
completely forgotten when Miller comes to his rescue with a film opportunity and once again their
smiles steal the show. The outstanding score moves the film from scene to scene with such
emotion that it’s hard to imagine why silent films lost their edge and Hazanavicius uses the music
so brilliantly to tell the story that you can’t help but enjoy this movie. While the story may be one
that has been told over and over again, between Hazanavicius vision, the enchanting score, and
the dazzling smiles of Dujardin and Bejo, this film is as fresh as they come.
By Brenda S. Ladd
