Orson Scot Card, in his
review of “The Artist" in the New York Times calls it “Sparkling, Swooning and
Suffering Wordlessly.” I liked that description. I knew it was a Silent movie with rave
reviews, but wasn’t sure what to expect.
I don’t think I have ever seen an entire silent movie. I have a preconceived idea of over the top
slapstick and corniness. I was delighted
and charmed with “ The Artist.” The movie
is a unique feast of old fashioned silent movie melodrama, but with an updated
improvement in story and characters. The
theme is silent movies. The protagonist
George Valentin, an aging, well-known
silent movie star, finds himself on the outs when “talkies” arrive on the
scene. He is not really willing to make
the transition. A much younger, aspiring actress, Peppy Miller
becomes infatuated with George and becomes an ally to help him find his way. Peppy sparkles, not so much with
movie star glamor but with a girl next door vivacity. George’s dog almost steals the show and his chauffeur
(James Cromwell) is a charming friend and support through all his trouble. There are a few subtitles and some nice music
throughout the movie. The only words are
spoken in the last few minutes. It is also in black and white, which only makes it feel more authentic. “Fun!”
best describes the movie. 3 good
stars.