Solomon
26th March 2012, 07:22 AM
The Artist(2011)
Written & Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
Cast : Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo
Venue : Screen 8, Celebration Cinema, Grand Rapids
Time : 5.55 PM, 26 Mar 2012
Attendance : 12 (Alpam verittoru cinemakku Americayile sthithiyum kanakku thanne)
About the movie
George Valentine enna silent-movie starinte life story, his peak form, his ego, dismissive attitude to change in the movie culture, the decline, the more hurt ego, the deep decline, the sympathiser and finally the redemption. The Artist enna movieye ingane churukkathil describe cheyyaam. Ego, pride ennee vikaarangal manushya swabhavam aayi athra adhikam chernnirikkunnathu kondaavum eventhough watching the same theme in lots of movie, it still makes u feel wanting for more.
Story
The movie tells the film culture in the late 1920s when the silent movie culture was beginning to give way to the talkies. A super-star of the silent movie era, George Valentine loved to be an entertainer and to take pride to be in the limelight. Being very confident of his entertaining abilities, he dismissed the idea of talkie movies. A small-time extra artist, Peppy Miller, who is a big fan of George slightly increases her stature in the movies. During that time, movies are tied up with production houses, and due to his attitude, George Valentine is out of the new talkie productions. Being hurt his ego, George puts all his wealth into a new silent movie and directs a movie. But due to the 1929 Stock market crash & the failure of the movie, George is completely out of the industry. His unhappy wife deserts him and he ends up with his driver Clifton. Then the movie shows the rise of the talkie era and the decline of George Valentine and the silent movie era. Then the typical hurt of ego and the solace in alcohol adds to the misery. Now, how George gets redeemed is the rest of the movie.
Script & Direction
Brilliant job by Michel Hazanavicius. Cinemayile pala rangangalum characterizationsum nammal palathavana kandittundenglm athellaam ee chithrathil ninnu inspired aayittu cheythathu pole audienceine feel cheyyikkaan directorkku kazhinju. Excellent choice of narrative. 1920s enna kaalaghattam recreate cheyyaan artworkinte gimmicksinu pakaram movie culture kondu valare easy, effective and different aayttu cheyyaan kazhinju. The essence of a motion picture is in the visual,rather than the dialogs. The movie clearly shows a solid proof for this. Excellent Job
Some brilliant sequences
1. The scene where George going to a pawn shop to pawn his suit for some quick money. He bargains lightly with the shop owner and from the limited amount, he with all his pride gives him a tip.
2. The pride in watching his movie in a full house, the greed to garner more applause from them and finally to watch his directorial venture in an empty house and leaving the movie house in despair.
3. The climax scene, where the audience eager to hear a word from George and the way it is shown.
4. The unhappy wife was portrayed very effectively with her disfiguring all his portraits throughout the movie.
Performance
Jean Dujardin - What to say. Haven't seen such an excellent portrayal in celluloid in recent time. His passion for limelight, his pride, his solace in the alcohol, everything was safe in his hands. His controlled performances in the real movie and his over-the-top performances in the silent movies shows how brilliant an actor he is. Clearly academy award deserving
Berenice Bejo - Perfect supporting character in the movie. She has tremendous attitude and her crush on the star George, her sympathy towards the fallen George, everything was nicely and comically portrayed by her.
Jack the dog - Its difficult to avoid this character in the review. Even a hard pet hater will love this dog
James Cromwell - Reminds of our beloved Oduvil Unnikrishnan in the movie Sagaram Sakshi. Another lovable character in the movie.
Technical Side
Being a silent movie, the importance of musical score is high and a perfect musical score from Ludovic Bource. The art work, the costumes everything was perfect in lieu with the era portrayed.
Critic's note
It would have been much more great, if a sequence was added to elaborate George's dismissive attitude to the talkies. A reason for hurting the pride/ego would have been more effective.
The movie had a large potential to end in a tragedy and a safe way to garner the fame associated with it. But the director, had a love for the lovable characters and thankfully the audience are left to feel good with the redemption of the main characters.
Verdict : Don't miss this great work of Art
Written & Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
Cast : Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo
Venue : Screen 8, Celebration Cinema, Grand Rapids
Time : 5.55 PM, 26 Mar 2012
Attendance : 12 (Alpam verittoru cinemakku Americayile sthithiyum kanakku thanne)
About the movie
George Valentine enna silent-movie starinte life story, his peak form, his ego, dismissive attitude to change in the movie culture, the decline, the more hurt ego, the deep decline, the sympathiser and finally the redemption. The Artist enna movieye ingane churukkathil describe cheyyaam. Ego, pride ennee vikaarangal manushya swabhavam aayi athra adhikam chernnirikkunnathu kondaavum eventhough watching the same theme in lots of movie, it still makes u feel wanting for more.
Story
The movie tells the film culture in the late 1920s when the silent movie culture was beginning to give way to the talkies. A super-star of the silent movie era, George Valentine loved to be an entertainer and to take pride to be in the limelight. Being very confident of his entertaining abilities, he dismissed the idea of talkie movies. A small-time extra artist, Peppy Miller, who is a big fan of George slightly increases her stature in the movies. During that time, movies are tied up with production houses, and due to his attitude, George Valentine is out of the new talkie productions. Being hurt his ego, George puts all his wealth into a new silent movie and directs a movie. But due to the 1929 Stock market crash & the failure of the movie, George is completely out of the industry. His unhappy wife deserts him and he ends up with his driver Clifton. Then the movie shows the rise of the talkie era and the decline of George Valentine and the silent movie era. Then the typical hurt of ego and the solace in alcohol adds to the misery. Now, how George gets redeemed is the rest of the movie.
Script & Direction
Brilliant job by Michel Hazanavicius. Cinemayile pala rangangalum characterizationsum nammal palathavana kandittundenglm athellaam ee chithrathil ninnu inspired aayittu cheythathu pole audienceine feel cheyyikkaan directorkku kazhinju. Excellent choice of narrative. 1920s enna kaalaghattam recreate cheyyaan artworkinte gimmicksinu pakaram movie culture kondu valare easy, effective and different aayttu cheyyaan kazhinju. The essence of a motion picture is in the visual,rather than the dialogs. The movie clearly shows a solid proof for this. Excellent Job
Some brilliant sequences
1. The scene where George going to a pawn shop to pawn his suit for some quick money. He bargains lightly with the shop owner and from the limited amount, he with all his pride gives him a tip.
2. The pride in watching his movie in a full house, the greed to garner more applause from them and finally to watch his directorial venture in an empty house and leaving the movie house in despair.
3. The climax scene, where the audience eager to hear a word from George and the way it is shown.
4. The unhappy wife was portrayed very effectively with her disfiguring all his portraits throughout the movie.
Performance
Jean Dujardin - What to say. Haven't seen such an excellent portrayal in celluloid in recent time. His passion for limelight, his pride, his solace in the alcohol, everything was safe in his hands. His controlled performances in the real movie and his over-the-top performances in the silent movies shows how brilliant an actor he is. Clearly academy award deserving
Berenice Bejo - Perfect supporting character in the movie. She has tremendous attitude and her crush on the star George, her sympathy towards the fallen George, everything was nicely and comically portrayed by her.
Jack the dog - Its difficult to avoid this character in the review. Even a hard pet hater will love this dog
James Cromwell - Reminds of our beloved Oduvil Unnikrishnan in the movie Sagaram Sakshi. Another lovable character in the movie.
Technical Side
Being a silent movie, the importance of musical score is high and a perfect musical score from Ludovic Bource. The art work, the costumes everything was perfect in lieu with the era portrayed.
Critic's note
It would have been much more great, if a sequence was added to elaborate George's dismissive attitude to the talkies. A reason for hurting the pride/ego would have been more effective.
The movie had a large potential to end in a tragedy and a safe way to garner the fame associated with it. But the director, had a love for the lovable characters and thankfully the audience are left to feel good with the redemption of the main characters.
Verdict : Don't miss this great work of Art