The Artist: Best Picture?

   On February 26, “The Artist” took home five awards and three of Hollywood’s biggest: Best Actor, Best Director and of course Best Picture. If you haven’t heard about it, “The Artist” is a silent film and the first to win an Oscar since “Wings” in 1929. But while “The Artist” is technically impressive and most certainly an achievement in filmmaking, we ask the question, does it really deserve the awards it got?

   

 “The Artist” is the story of George Valentin (Jean Dujardin). Valentin is the biggest star in Hollywoodland, the “fictional” town where all of his movies are produced. After a well-received movie, Valentin is photographed with a fan, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) who uses the exposure to make her way into the movie business. But Valentin is only a star of silent movies. When his director Al Zimmer (John Goodman) decides to produce strictly “talkies” Valentin refuses to take any part, choosing instead to make his own silent films.

  

 But no one wants to watch silent films anymore. Peppy’s star continues to rise as she takes on more and more talking roles while Valentin descends into a washed up has-been.

  

 For those planning on seeing “The Artist,” think long and hard about whether or not you can sit through 100 minutes of no talking. I didn’t think it would be too weird, but it is. It’s disconcerting seeing mouths moving without any sound coming out. Once you get used to it though, “The Artist” becomes a great movie.

  

 Without dialogue, every actor has to exaggerate their movements and expressions to convey what they would be saying. They do this fantastically and never once is the audience confused about what is happening or what the characters are feeling. Valentin is a very charming lead, and while Bejo’s character is a little creepy at times, their budding attraction is fun to watch. Add to that Valentin’s sidekick, a cute terrier that knows every trick in the book, and you have a very watchable silent film.

   

 But why is this article titled Best Picture? Because when I see “The Artist” I see wasted potential. One scene in particular stands out. When Valentin first hears of talking films, he laughs them off and walks out. But he has a fever dream in which he starts to hear sounds. His dog barking, a glass clinking people laughing, but he cannot make a sound. No matter how loud he tries to yell. It was moving, heartbreaking and only five minutes long. The director should have explored that theme further, talking without being heard. Instead we have a movie that is about 20 minutes too long and a wasted exploration into the impact of sound.

   

 Fortunately, the movie ends on a high note with a catchy song and dance and Valentin’s first words of the entire film. Best musical score? Definitely. Best Actor? Sure. Best Director? Quite possibly. Best Picture? Not quite. There were better films this year and “The Artist” probably only won because everyone was surprised that it was still possible to make a good silent film.

3 out of 4 stars

-Christopher O'Connell