I usually don't review movies. I dont consider myself that much of a movie critic to do justice to certain artistic and cinematic nuances.However i recently saw the movie 'The Artist'. In this case, the movie was so simple yet to stirring that i decided to write about it.This is not a review. This is merely my appreciation for what was an extremely enchanting and off-beat cinema.
'The Artist' is a beautiful movie. Rarely, do you come across cinema in such a pure form. I was actually pretty reluctant to watch this movie. A black & white, silent movie does not necessarily spell "fun" for me. But thank God, i wound up watching it. 'The Artist' is a vintage period movie that dates back to the early 20th century were silent movies ruled the roost. The movie narrates the story of an actor George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), in the peak of his powers. He's a star and the toast of Hollywood. The charming actor is the centre of all attention and basks in his fame and glory.Then comes along Peppy, a young junior artist who wishes to make it big in Hollywood.Circumstances make them very close.George mentors Peppy initially.Peppy falls for him.The chemistry between the lead actors is palpable. But things are not perpetually rosy. Soon, the audiences taste change and talkies arrive. The silent movies are phased out and George is left in the lurch all of a sudden. On the other hand, Peppy becomes the new sensation. People flock the theatres to watch her and due to the advent of talkies she becomes an overnight success. George, his ego severely hurt, takes it upon himself and directs his next silent movie in which he himself stars. His movie releases alonside Peppy's talkie and bombs miserably. Thats when he realizes that his time is gone. There's one scene which i especially admired where Peppy's guy friend tells George that 'his Dad' was a big fan, clearly indicating that George's era was over. Soon, George goes broke and literally lands on the streets. He soon takes to drinking and drowns his sorrows with large doses of liquor and cigars. All of a sudden the great George Valentin becomes a nobody. He sells all his stuff, suffers from depression and becomes a complete wreck. Inspite of all this, Peppy still loves him and how she helps George get back on his feet forms the rest of the story.
There are a number of reasons why i simply adored this movie. First is the simplicity.This movie had an old-world charm to it. The simpler the story, the greater the impact it has on the audience. While I do get a kick out of movies like Inception, Matrix.I would anyday like to come out of the theatre happy and satisfied as opposed to benumbed and mindf***ed. So, simpler the better. The other reason is the silence. This is how cinema is meant to be. This is cinema in its most pristine and immaculate form. Dialogues would have surely spoiled the beauty of this classic. The silence amplifies the impact. Due to the lack of dialogues, everything boils down to body language and facial expressions and the actors have done a fabulous job. In silent movies, the music plays a vital role. I must say, I really enjoyed the symphonic,beautifully orchestrated old-world scores in the movie. The movie scores high on emotional value too, as it deals with myriad emotions like triumph, love, failiure, depression, frustration etc. It touches upon these emotions seamlessly. And last but not the least,THE DOG. George's Terrier is one of the most amusing characters in the movie. It offers lot of comic value as well as saves his neck quite a few times. It accompanies him through thick and thin. Even when the whole world has left him in the cold, Uggi remains by his side faithfully. Indeed,the proverbial man's best friend. Call me crazy, but i could actually draw parallels to the tamil movie 'Rajapart Rangadurai' starring Sivaji Ganesan.That movie too, talks about the rise and fall of a dramatist, whos life is in utter ruins because of the advent of popular cinema. But the similarities are too few and far..
It may sound too cliched, but the Artist in indeed a classic. One of those movies which come once in a blue moon. So when it does, one needs to savour it and indulge in its brilliance.
