Well, thanks to oldest buddy Jerald, I have a new favorite film, one that is only 3 years old! Incredible for me. Naturally, it would be a silent black and white flick which lovingly honors the same type works created over 80 years ago. The Artist won seemingly universal acclaim (and a few Oscars) when it came out in 2011. It is lovely in virtually every way, harking back to the days of Douglas Fairbanks Sr., John Gilbert, with echoes of Chaplin and reminders of Gene Kellys Singin in the Rain (which though from 1952 is about the same awkward and frightening transition from silents to talkies), not to exclude a character who reminded me of Jean Hagens abrasive-voiced femme in the same film. I suspect that further viewings will reveal more nuggets for the film buff. A startling if beautiful homage was the use of perhaps 2 or 3 minutes of Bernard Herrmanns music from Vertigo. Jean Dujardin, who played the lead character, conveyed so much of the classic faces and personalities of that long-gone era. Leading lady Berenice Bejo sparkled with a Leslie Caron quality--well, since I knew she was French, I was maybe overprepared for that comparison. The supporting players were chiefly Americans like John Goodman and James Cromwell. It was filmed in Hollywood, which no doubt helped to flavor the proceedings appropriately.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:04:14 +0000
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