The Artist

[Margo]

The Artist just won the 2012 Golden Globe for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy, and got its star, Jean Dujardin, the Best Actor trophy in the same category.

I saw it over the holidays because of the critical acclaim and walked away feeling it was good but not great. I said to the boyfriend that it felt like it must have been done already and is getting all the adulation this time around because enough time has passed since the events it describes.

I do get warm fuzzies when I see it win awards, though. The mind is a strange thing.

Anyone else see it?

[Deleted]

I saw it a couple weeks ago, and I really liked it. I especially like John Goodman. I swear if he were around back then, he'dve been a great silent film actor. He has such an awesomely expressive face.

[huntergrayson]

This is seriously my most-anticipated film of the last year. Naturally it hasn't come to Amishville, PA yet but I think TWC is finally opening it wide on Friday.

For what it is worth, I was in love with Jean before it was cool, since I saw OSS 117 for the two weeks it was in American theaters back in 2007.

Anyone with Netflix Streaming should watch OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies and its sequel immediately. Dujardin is an amazing comic actor in both - Michel directed both - and Berenice costars in the first one. There is no Uggie, sorry to say. But Hazanavicius pulls off the tricky feat of making something that seems like it genuinely could BE a 60s Bond film while affectionately satirizing the genre.

If this is the same thing, but for silent film, I think I'll enjoy it.

[forever1267]

I'm looking forward to seeing it, but... the silent film idea seems like a gimmick, and from what I can gather of the plot, it seems like a retread of A Star is Born, but without Evergreen or The Man that Got Away. It does look fun, though.

[huntergrayson]

British filmgoers demand refunds because they didn't know it was a silent film.

[GoldenFleece]

Jan 18, 2012 13:36:30 GMT -4 @huntergrayson said:

British filmgoers demand refunds because they didn't know it was a silent film.

When I saw this yesterday, there was a notice at the box office that it was not only silent, but black and white AND critically acclaimed! Because all three things would probably scare off a lot of moviegoers.

I really enjoyed it, though the silent film aspect did feel a little gimmicky at times and it's hardly a groundbreaking story. I wished I was better at lip-reading because there weren't titles for everything that was said. The dog was amazing! Not that the human actors weren't good, too. I really wouldn't mind Jean Dujardin getting the Oscar.

[Deleted]

Jan 18, 2012 13:36:30 GMT -4 @huntergrayson said:

British filmgoers demand refunds because they didn't know it was a silent film.

"American Filmgoers Demand 'Idiocracy' Refunds Because They Didn't Know It Was About Them".

[mariposalabrown]

Just saw it and eh. Definitely felt like I had seen it too many times before, thought it dragged a bit, but still left with a warm fuzzy feeling, mostly because of the dog and dancing. I think I got myself too excited for this one, but agreed that it was neat to see old LA and the main guy looked perfect as a matinee idol. I love that Missi Pyle is in an acclaimed movie, wish we had seen more of her. This movie did look like it was a lot of fun for the actors to make.

ETA: unexpected laughs in our theatre from MI4 perfectly having explosions next door during any quiet part. One old lady said "sounds like we are in the boring movie" and everyone chuckled. The old people audience really loved The Artist, almost as much as the trailer for that hotel in India for old people movie.

[Deleted]

Heh, we had a fire alarm (false) go off this evening, effectively ruining -- but in a crazily ironic way -- the last ten minutes of the movie. A refund AND a free pass assuaged our fury.

I liked it a lot more than I feared I would. Actually, I loved it. "We need to talk". So perfect. In fact, the whole movie was a sweet, perfect little gem.

[proper stranger]

I loved it, too. Jean Dujardin was so charming, down to his Gene Kelly-esque smile. The movie just made me feel good. Seriously, I had the biggest, dorkiest smile on my face at the end. I really liked the use of real old LA locations, too--I spotted the Bradbury Building and the Los Angeles Theatre.

Feb 1, 2012 0:04:22 GMT -4 @bstewart said:

"We need to talk". So perfect.

Loved, LOVED that. I also smiled at "I just want to be alone" at one point.

The ending reminded me a bit of Fred and Ginger's "Let's Face the Music and Dance" from Follow the Fleet, not stylistically, but thematically. In that scene, Fred and Ginger are each about to commit suicide, only to find comfort in each other and the dance. In this movie, Peppy stops George from killing himself and he ultimately finds new joy and purpose through dancing. Love.