Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Artist (2011)

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Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 01-03-2012, 07:23 PM:

The dawn of the talking picture era has a different effect on the careers of a dashing silent film star and the up-and-coming ingénue that loves him.

This is a black and white, Academy aspect-ratio silent film (silent meaning mostly no dialog but with music and sound effects) that deals with the melancholy fate of those who cannot adapt, or more precisely will not adapt to change. And it’s a really great picture; the two leads pretty much nail their roles, the production values are top notch, and there is a great scene-stealing dog as well. Of course, you can pretty much guess what is going to happen every step of the way, but it is still a good redemptive power-of-love story. It adds to the movie that the two lead performers, while well known in their native France, are virtually unknown here. It helps a viewer to get into the story when there is no Hollywood star gawking to have to deal with.

This movie is getting a lot of Oscar talk, and I hope it comes away with something. It's just a good, pure, straight-up moviegoing experience.

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 01-04-2012, 06:31 PM:

I agree with all that Mark said. It's one of the best pictures of the year and will surprise you in spite of your cynical self.

I will add that you should see this with an audience. Otherwise it will be just like watching Chaplin or Lloyd on an iPod. Live a little.

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 01-04-2012, 06:56 PM:

The trailer is excellent! I tear up every time as I do my changeover from the trailer to my main feature. [Confused]

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-04-2012, 09:12 PM:

Hey Mark-

Best Picture possibility?

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 01-05-2012, 05:44 AM:

Who knows. The movies that seem to be getting the most Oscar heat so far are The Artist, The Descendants and The Tree of Life. All of those are very good movies in their own right. The Artist, while made in Hollywood, is mostly a European production with a largely foreign cast and crew. That doesn't matter to me, but who knows how the Academy will feel about it. They may decide that Terrance Malick is due.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-07-2012, 09:50 PM:

True enough Mark.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 01-28-2012, 07:06 PM:

CINEMA: 13th Avenue Warren, Wichita, KS
AUDITORIUM: 3
PRESENTATION: Dolby Digital Cinema/THX
PRESENTATION PROBLEMS: A silent film, yet one of the most talkative damn audiences I've ever had the displeasure of watching a movie with
RATING: Two and one half stars (out of four)

Seriously. It was like everybody needed to explain out loud everything that was going on to each other. Most bizarre observation of the night? "Look at that old light switch!" What the FUCK.

THE PLOT: The silent era ends. Wackiness ensues.

It looks like a silent film, it has a predictable love story, and it has a cute dog. It's a perfectly good watch.

I just don't get why everybody thinks this is so magically grand.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 02-22-2012, 01:10 PM:

...because it's an "art" film, but I honestly liked it, even in digital.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-22-2012, 04:16 PM:

To make "Oscar night" anti-climactic once again, it seems very likely (or guaranteed) The Artist will win the Best Picture Oscar. It already won the Producer's Guild award for Best Picture. Basically the same people are voting for both awards. So, no guess work is really needed.

The Directors Guild also gave The Artist its top award (to director Michel Hazanavicius). That makes him almost a lock to get the Best Director Oscar.

Jean Dujardin will probably win the Best Actor Oscar since he has already won the Screen Actors Guild award.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-22-2012, 08:36 PM:

I don't know....Entertainment Weekly broke down the BP nominees and gave them all a percentage-chance of winning. "The Artist" had 20%, and "Hugo" and one other (which I don't remember) both had 15%. So even the "experts" aren't exactly being definitive.

I agree though, "The Artist" has that uniqueness that will probably make it win.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 02-24-2012, 08:23 AM:

...and then Joan Collins blew the whole thing by telling the press Artist was going to win BP.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 03-02-2012, 07:08 AM:

I enjoyed The Artist much more than I expected to. It takes a bit to get used to the lack of dialogue and the occasional lack of any sound. But the performances by Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo were fantastic.

I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-02-2012, 04:42 PM:

...just too bad that us that are playing it - either 35mm or digital (in which most of the 6 reels had good ol' fadein/out changeovers..) - can have adjustable maskings to come in and completely frame the sides of image, like a shadowbox image.

Excellent film, by the way ...

-Monte

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-02-2012, 05:13 PM:

For the first time, I had seen most of the films nominated for best picture of 2011 either in theatre or on a BD disc but I have not yet seen THE ARTIST. I had planned to wait for it to come out on Blue Ray but I think I will try to see it this weekend now that there are more theatres playing it. Because THE DESCENDANTS was filmed entirely in Hawaii and I had enjoyed it very much, the entire state of Hawaii and I were rooting for it to win for best picture, actor and director. My 2nd choice was HUGO. I will comment more after I see THE ARTIST.

-Claude

-Claude