The Artist

Every so often a film comes along that is so different that it stands out amongst the rest of the films we normally see.

It is always interesting when a film comes along that despite its brilliance can defy all expectations and become so successful and widely praised. This film had so much going against it as far as being so widely accepted. Firstly the film is in black and white. We do see black and white films occasionally but not very often. The film is silent or free of dialogue. That's definitely something we do not see these days. It is a testament to writer/director Michel Hazanavicius that he has created film that can overcome these hurdles to be so successful. While it does borrow many story elements from other stories, Michel has made story that you could only imagine being told in the way he has. This is a very loving tribute to the early stages of film making and how great that time was. Without dialogue the actors have to rely mostly on their body movements and facial expressions to but across plot points and what they are feeling. There are title cards for some dialogue but it does make you realise how important talking can be in those situations. You can see many parallels that can be drawn with modern film making and how actor George Valentin is unwilling to accept sound in films. Films are constantly evolving and makers are always trying to come up with unique ways to make their films stand out. It is ironic that Michel has gone backwards with some old fashioned techniques to make his film stand out.

Many of you will not have heard of Jean Dujardin, but I'm sure you will see a lot more of him in the future after this film. Jean is a very skilled actor who can convey so much through facial expressions and body movements. As mentioned above, he needs to get across lots of information without any dialogue. I definitely think he deserves all the awards he has managed to receive so far. He would also be worthy of the Oscar if, hopefully, it should come his way. Equally brilliant is Berenice Bejo. She is so delightful and gives a wonderful performance. She and Jean are a lovely couple. Michel has cast some great American actors in supporting roles. John Goodman is hilarious as the head of the studio. James Cromwell gives a nicely dignified performance.

We are being constantly bombarded by the same types of films, made in the same ways. So when something refreshing, even if it is old fashioned, comes along it is a reason to celebrate. I'm sure it will win most of the Oscars this year and deservedly so.