The Artist: Review By SherlockHolmes2009

To be quite honest, I didnt think anyone could pull of a silent film as good as they used to be, with all of todays technology, but my opinion changed when I saw The Artist. Its not just a good film, its a tribute from todays filmakers to the people who help inspire them to become what they are today.

First off I gotta say what an amazing screenplay The Artist had. Written by Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist reminds us of how great silent films were and it shows how they havent lost their touch. Also I loved how the film transitioned from silence to sound and how difficult it was for actors and actresses who are used to silent films to make that big change to sound. Like I said, its not just a great film, its a worthy tribute to the golden age of cinema and Hazanavicius has done a great job at writing this screenplay.

The acting is quite possibly the best of the year because of how they use nothing but their expressions to show their feelings just like actors and actresses from the silent era. Everybody who came in this movie were the right choices but its Jean Dujardin as George Valentin who steals the show. I have to say Jean Dujardin is the main star here as he reminds me of a young Clark Gable with that mustache, but what he was able to do is something very few actors can do now adays, he gives an Oscar worthy performance by using, not any words, but the expressions and emotions of his face and body and he is able use his raw energy to give us the best performance of 2011 along with giving us a reminder of how great silent actors were. Another thing about the acting was the chemistry between Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo that really got to me. The emotions pouring from their eyes, from the laughing and the crying, they were able to convince people that they cared for each other without even saying one word and that is something you rarely find now adays.

The directing done by Michel Hazanavicius is one of the best of the year. He captures the mans struggles with adapting to the sound era as silent films are dying and his use of 1.33:1 ratio like they used back in the day is another reason why he was the best choice to direct this film and his cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman has also done a fine job at shooting this wonderful film.

The visuals here is one of the reason The Artist was so great. To me it was like I was sitting in the theaters during the late 1920's and was watching this movie. The camera, the music, the beautiful 1920's scenere, everything about the visuals help give The Artist that classic silent film look and I applaud the creative people who made this possible.

Overall this film deserves 10/10 stars. Many people thought Michel Hazanavicius couldnt pull off a silent film in todays age but with the right director, actors and actresses, writer, cinematographer, and visual department, you have what is without a doubt one of the best films of 2011 and will surely be sweeping up some big time awards like the great dancing it does in the film.