The Artist | Discussion Thread

aaron

I just finished from viewing the film (online), and wow...it was a stunner. Breathtaking and nostalgic in every way. If it doesn't win the Academy Award, I will be legitimately mad. Now, I haven't seen The Descendants or a few of the other frontrunners, but "The Artist" is a once-in-a-decade type film, and one of the most unique film-watching experiences I've had in a long time. The silent era was magnificent, and this just brings you back to the era with such thrill, excitement, and visceral wonder that the tears roll from start to finish (even when the moments aren't emotional).

Jean Dujardin is fantastic as George Valentin, and his facial expressions alone manage to capture every little bit of his character's wide range of emotions. He is very resonant and a brilliant expressionist--I'm hoping for a triumph over Clooney at the Academy Awards, but I'm not so sure the Academy will agree with me on that. :| The few other actors that there are are fantastic in their roles (Berenice Bejo--director Michael Hazavanacius' wife--as leading lady Peppy Miller is great, and the cute sidekick pooch Uggy is adorable and steals the show).

The direction is top-notch, and while there is no real dialogue (there are a few dialogue cards which keep things spiced up throughout the film) the plot is very basic and classic as far as the silent, classic era goes. One final mention about the film's technical aspects--the score is GORGEOUS. In a film where the only sound other than a few sound effects and a few lines of actual dialogue at the end (spoiler :P) is the score, the soundtrack has to be exciting and keep you entertained. Ludovic Bource crafts up a wonderfully bubbly, feel-good, amusing and genuinely emotional score. Simply gorgeous, I'm rooting for him for the Oscar as well (since Desplat most likely won't be nominated). Overall, the feel good film of the year, a masterpiece and one of the best films of the year!

Martin1

Sounds interesting, I don't think I've heard of it.






















Oh, then again, I think @Ash may have mentioned it once.




































Or twice.






































OH RIGHT, every goddamn thread

Martin1

Loll, no honestly it looks like a great film and I've heard nothing but positive things. I'll add watch The Artist for my 2012 bucketlist.

aaron

He's watching it as we speak, and I believe he shares my feelings about it, perhaps even more enthusiastic. ;)

aaron

I mean, listen to this:

AllStar87

I want to see this so bad! Hahaha I heard that someone at a movie theatre asked for a refund because they didn't know it was a silent movie.

aaron

It's not completely a silent movie. ;)

Henrick

Some awesome news! The Artist won the PGA Awards. :D

'The Artist' tops PGA Awards
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118048981/

I would say we definitely have a favorite now. :D

RyGuy

My short review from the rate thread -

The Artist 2011 - Before I started watching this movie, I never thought I would love it as much as I genuinely did. This is what movie making is all about in my eyes. Captivating the viewer even if your characters have no spoken lines. The emotions that each character conveys with body movement and simple looks, smiles, frowns...These actors did a superb job. The Music was absolutely stunning and complimented the film very well. The sets were one thing I kept oogling at and all the little artifacts. Above all these though, is the story. While The Artist is a shorter movie it conveyed a great story with excellent pacing and many surprises. The emotions these characters convey with just their body and their face...it had me stunned. I genuinely loved this movie and it is my favorite of 2011 hands down. This was a refreshing homage to cinema's past. I find it stunning that a movie with no spoken words or color can have more heart and better characters than most the movies released last year. I find that stunning. I never rate films a perfect score...but I am giving The Artist a 10/10 because of how the people behind this collaborated and made a stunning film. If you get a chance I highly recommend you see it.

ArthurNotTheWeasley

Sorry, guys. 7/10

XDMorsmordreXD

Why?

mattStrelow

OMG I wanna watch this so bad...

ArthurNotTheWeasley

I watched the movie hoping to find something to delight me, but I knew it could be something not so spectacular. Unfortunately, it was the latter. The film has some brilliant moments, but they're rare. Some say that, being black and white and almost mute, is pedantic. I disagree. Everything there has a reason. But the story is predictable and its conduct as well.

I think that the movie works better with the context outside than as a movie itself.

aaron

I didn't think the story was predictable. I thought it was a little familiar, yes, but more in the sense that it was classic, golden-age feeling. The style was that of silent films of the old age, and that's what makes the film so fascinating. It's a collection of homages and warm nostalgia; the emotional impact is increased tenfold from just the story due to the pure nostalgia the film brings.

ArthurNotTheWeasley

Its true, Aaron. But its a way to see it. I mean... even "The Artist" having the need of the viewer have a prior knowledge of the Golden Era's format (and its aspects as well), Cinema is an art whose impact will depend on the elements that the viewer has in its past (and here I refer not only to the Cinema, but all the experiences). And that's why "The Artist" failed to impress me.

P.S.: I think my English failed at some point of my explanation. If it did, I'm sorry =P

Ash

Congratulations to The Artist on receiving 10 Academy Award nominations!

Actor In a Leading Role
Actress In a Supporting Role
Art Direction
Best Picture
Cinematography
Costume Design
Directing
Film Editing
Music (Original Score)
Writing (Original Screenplay)

aaron

Yay! ^_^ I hope it picks up wins for Best Picture, Actor, Director, and Original Score. :P I wouldn't mind an Editing win either.

XDMorsmordreXD

Congrats! I'll see you soon :x
I'm literally enthralled that it was nominated for Original Score. No surprise there :P . I've listened to it so much.

Ash

It simply has to win. Magnificent. :x

mattStrelow

Will be downloading it illegally tomorrow. I'm starting my Oscar race tomorrow and I'll make a thread for it :)

mattStrelow

Will be downloading it illegally tomorrow. I'm starting my Oscar race tomorrow and I'll make a thread for it :)

RyGuy

Uggie Gets Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Uggie, the lively Jack Russell terrier whose antics in Oscar-winning film "The Artist" stole audience members' hearts, became the first dog on Monday to leave his prints beside the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable in front of Hollywood's famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Dressed in a black bow tie and posing for photographers, Uggie sank his paws in cement in a ceremony that also marked his retirement from the movies. The 10-year-old canine, who hit the big time as French actor Jean Dujardin's cute sidekick in the silent movie, will appear at charity events, his trainer said.

"Everybody thinks I am great trainer. I don't think so. I think he is just a great dog," trainer Omar von Muller said at the paw print ceremony, thanking Uggie's fans and his thousands of followers on Twitter and Facebook.

Filmed in black and white, "The Artist" won five Oscars, including best picture, in February. The Blu-ray version of the movie sees its release on Tuesday. Fans mounted a campaign to have Uggie nominated for an acting Academy Award in his own right, but the pooch was ineligible under rules that say acting awards can only go to humans.

Uggie, who also performed in "Water for Elephants," has made appearances around the world since "The Artist" was released last year. He won the 2011 Palm Dog award at the Cannes film festival in May and the Golden Collar Award in Los Angeles in February.

RyGuy

Sadly though, Uggie has now retired :(

Canine star Uggie attended a pawprint ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Monday June 25, 2012 in Los Angeles. Uggie, star of the Oscar-winning film “The Artist,” became the first dog to cement his paws outside of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Uggie was celebrated during a ceremony Monday with a cake in the shape of a fire hydrant and golden bow-tie collar. He arrived in a fire truck. The event also marked Uggie’s retirement from show business.

@Aaron @Ash

RyGuy

Also! The Dvd comes out on June 26th :D

Martin1

I thought it was good, but I wouldn't get a Blu ray for it. I only get a Blu ray for eye candy or must have films that tore open a second butthole while fucking me.

Ash

Already got the blu-ray, stunning every single time I watch it.