The Artist
2011  PG-13  DRAMA  1h 40min
CAST— Jean Dujaroin, Bérénice Bejo, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Malcolm McDowell, Missi Pyle, Beth Grant, Ed Lauter, Joel Murphy, Ken Davitian, John Goodman
MUSIC— Ludovic Bource  DIRECTOR— Michel Hazanavicius

     Boop-oopy-doo and twenty-three skidoo, it’s 1927. The silver screen’s brightest star, George Valentin, is on top of the world. His movies are making money and he’s become a major draw at the box office. When he accidentally makes a starlet of a bright-eyed autograph hound named Peppy Miller he thinks nothing of it… until the advent of the talkie, that is. It looks like it’s out with the old, in with the new. And little Miss Miller is enjoying her newfound fame. When the stock market crashes Valentin hits the skids, being seen as a washout to those who remember him. But he will always have a fan in the beautiful Peppy. A romantic drama that’s really more of a gimmick than anything else; the silent film angle may be clever and quaint to those unfamiliar with the concept, but to the few who remember the works of Rudolph Valentino and Buster Keaton the approach is a bit transparent. Nevertheless, the film is an enjoyable throwback to the days of yesteryear, when Hollywoodland was young and silence spoke volumes. Oscar-winner for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Jean Dujaroin), Best Costume Design, Best Original Score.
OUR RATING— ***