The review of the film "The Artis"

Basic facts about the movie

Title – The Artist                       

Directed - Michel Hazanavicius

Starring - Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo

Genre - romantic comedy-drama

Setting - The story takes place in Hollywood, between 1927 and 1932, and focuses on the relationship of an older silent film star and a rising young actress as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the "talkies".

Plot overview - Outside a movie premiere, enthusiastic fan Peppy Miller literally bumps into the swashbuckling hero of the silent film, George Valentin. The star reacts graciously and Peppy plants a kiss on his cheek as they are surrounded by photographers. The headlines demand: "Who's That Girl?" and Peppy is inspired to audition for a dancing bit-part at the studio. However as Peppy slowly rises through the industry, the introduction of talking-pictures turns Valentin's world upside-down. Written by L. Hamre

It's 1927. Arguably Hollywood's most admired movie screen idol, George Valentin, is enjoying the success of his latest picture, The Russian Affair. He enjoys his work and the adulation he receives by being a movie star, as witnessed by how he hogs the spotlight during The Russian Affair's post-premiere bows. Peppy Miller is an aspiring young actress, who literally and figuratively runs into Valentin at the premiere, which ends up being the launching pad to her Hollywood acting career. The advent of talking pictures brings a reversal to their fortunes as Kinograph, the movie studio where Valentin is under contract, is looking for fresh faces such as Peppy Miller to star in their talking pictures, while Valentin resists the entire notion of talking pictures. Peppy, who appreciates everything that Valentin did for her career, tries to help him as much as she can, but Valentin may have to decide on his own where and if he fits into the Hollywood machine, one where he doesn't think people want to hear him speak. Written by Huggo

In 1927, in Hollywood, the star George Valentin is the pride and joy of the president of the Kinograph Studios Al Zimmer and worshiped by a legion of fans. Among them is Peppy Miller, who stumbles into George Valentin after the premiere of a silent film. Peppy kisses George and the photographers take pictures of them. The next morning, the headlines read "Who is that girl?" and Peppy is selected in a dancing audition to be an extra in a film. Over the next few years, Peppy climbs positions in the Kinograph Studios until the advent of talking pictures. Proud George Valentin does not believe in the 'talkies', breaks off with the studio and decides to produce and direct a silent film. The film is a complete failure and with the Great Depression, George Valentin falls and is bankrupt. Meanwhile Peppy Miller rises as new star of Kinograph Studios. But she never forgets her idol George Valentin.

Direction

If we are going to speak about this element we are to say that the director chooses an unusual way to portray the events in the story. Because it is something new - silent movies nowadays. The movie was presented to the audience in a very strange way for the era of cinema because it is black and white film. I think the movie was not slow and it included things which were necessary. Unfortunately I've not seen other movies directed by the same person, that’s why I can’t compare them and determine which I like the most. But it’s in the short run of my life to do it, because Michel Hazanavicius is a great director of our time.

Writing

The second thing we are to mentioned having made a review it’s writing. I felt like the plot was inventive and unpredictable. There are two facts which helped me to think so: they are black and white movie and a silent film. In this case it is hard to predict the future, when there is nothing to hang on. The characters' words didn’t seem credible to me, because there were not any words of characters’, but their actions, movements and deeds were so. In this case it is true when the lack of words is replaced by play of actors.

Editing

Personally I think the editing of the film is shown in this way. The movie rather flew smoothly from scene to scene than was choppy. The director tries to put us to the atmosphere of the Hollywood of the 30s. I may say that the use of lighting and other ambient effects are on the same level. But at the same time Hazanavicius wants us to pay attention to each subject which is on the screen. The movie doesn’t have computer-generated graphics because of the historical frames of that period which it illustrates.

Costume design

To my mind it is impossible to imagine any film without good costumes. The clothing choices fit the style of the movie. There were the same jackets and shoos, cars and piaces of furnuter and the whole situation mirrors the era of the end of the silient black and white cinema. They contributed to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it.

Set design

The setting of the film is a very important part of the understanding . It influenced its other elements. Because each of them depend from each other. It added the experience for me. The movie was filmed in a real place and this location was well-chosen. But it was a hard work to the director to transform the place from the real life into the past.

Background music

It worked with the scenes. It was under-used. It was suspenseful especially in amusing and irritating moments of the film.

In conclusion I would like to say that the movie was intriguing and exciting. I recommend you to watch it. It won The Oscar Award, don’t you think that they gave it to the bad film, mmm?