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London Dog Forum > Dog Fun, Fact & Entertainment > Dogs in the Media - Reviews > The Artist - Film (2011)
The Artist - Film (2011)
Reviewed by Andi Godfrey 16th January 2012
On rare occasions one comes across a film that is cinematic gem and for me,‘The Artist’ comes into that category. After its success at last night’s Golden Globes, it appears that I am not alone in that opinion. The film won 3 awards for ‘Best Picture, Musical or Comedy’, ‘Best Actor’ (Jean Dujardin) and 'Best Musical Score'. These gongs are added to ‘Best Actor’ at the Cannes film festival, ‘Best film’ and ‘Best Director’ at the New York Critics Circle awards and at France’s Lumiere awards, canine star, Uggie received a special mention.
The film is set in Hollywood in the late 1920’s and opens with silent movie star, George Valentin at the premiere of his latest film where he is taking more bows with his co-starring Jack Russell than with his leading lady. On leaving the cinema, he is photographed with the beautiful, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) and their picture appears on the front page of Variety much to the chagrin of George’s wealthily bestowed but emotionally neglected wife.
On the following day George bumps into the beautiful Peppy again who is appearing as an extra in his latest film. Being at the height of his fame, George sweeps the girl off her feet and leads her on to bigger movie roles. But it is 1927 and ‘talkies’ are replacing the silent movies. Peppy Miller is hired as a speaking artist and becomes a movie star in her own right and George Valentin becomes a washed up has-been with his pride and male chauvinism as his worst enemy. After a series of tragedies, love wins the day and the film culminates with a glamorous, Hollywood style ending.
I think that had I been handed the script as a producer, I might have flung it in the bin. A hackneyed love story, a movie shot in black and white, hammy 20’s style acting – a silent film! It could never work! Luckily I am not a producer and nothing could be further from the truth. The cinematography is stunning, the acting is subtle and wonderfully underplayed, the two leading artists are totally compelling and the film as a whole is a work of pure genius. However, the true star of the film is Uggie, the Jack Russell, a former rescue from ‘death row’, who performs like a seasoned pro and will melt the heart of any animal lover.
See also news story 'When Dogs Trust Freddy Met Screen Idol Uggie'
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