A silent victory
Much was said about The Artist, during the prolonged awards season where it reigned supreme, and scooped up five Oscars - including Best Picture. Critics lauded its modern take on the silent film, calling it a triumph and a true underdog story. But was it deserving of these accolades?
The story is about a prolific silent film star, called George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), whose unrivalled career in the movie business is set to come crashing down with the advent of the Talkies (films with sound). Set during the late Twenties, and early Thirties, during the onset of the Great Depression, we see the world around George change, as he remains a has-been, made all the more tragic by the meteoric rise by a girl called Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo). George had been Peppy’s introduction into the world of movies - gaining her access to a film set as an extra, where she went on to make a career for herself - becoming the new face of modern movies.
A beautifully made film, The Artist makes heavy use of an orchestral score in order to fill the void of a voiceless plot. The shots are undertaken with a genius direction, from Michel Hazanavicius, who creates an authentic looking silent film fit for a modern audience.
Whilst the storyline is a little too linear for some, there can be no doubt of the talent on screen - as proved by an outstanding tap-dance by the two leads, and the daring behind making a theatrical release of a silent movie in the 21st Century, is something deserving of recognition.
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