Silence is dull (PART 2 OF 3)
The Artist
The Artist is a 2011 French romance film directed by Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.
The story takes place in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932 and focuses on a declining male film star and a rising actress, as silent cinema grows out of fashion and is replaced by the talkies.
Much of the film itself is silent; it is shot in black-and-white, and has received wide praise from critics and many accolades.
Dujardin won the Best Actor Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where the film premiered.
The film has six Golden Globe nominations, the most of 2011.
Plot
Swashbuckling silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) attends the premiere of his latest film A Russian Affair.
Outside the theater, Valentin is posing for pictures for the paparazzi when a woman, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), admiring Valentin while lost in a sea of adoring fans, drops her purse.
She bends down to get it, but is accidentally pushed into Valentin.
She ends up photographed, and the next day, she is on the front page of Variety with the headline "Who's That Girl?".
Later, Miller auditions as a dancer and is spotted by Valentin.
He insists she have a bit in his new film, despite objections from the studio boss, Al Zimmer (John Goodman).
Peppy slowly rises in the industry, her roles growing larger and larger.
Two years later, Zimmer announces the end of production of silent films, but Valentin insists that sound is just a fad.
When Zimmer unloads all his silent stars, George decides to produce and direct his own silent film, financing it himself.
It opens on the same day as Miller's new sound film, and Valentin is ruined.
His wife, Doris (Penelope Ann Miller), kicks him out, and he moves into an apartment with his valet, Clifton (James Cromwell).
Miller goes on to become a major Hollywood star.
Later, Valentin fires Clifton and sells off all his effects.
Desperate and drunk, Valentin starts a fire in his home.
His dog gets help and he awakes in a bed in Miller's house.
Clifton is now working for Miller.
Miller insists that Valentin co-stars in her next film, or she will quit Zimmer's studio.
After Valentin learns that Miller had purchased all of his auctioned effects, he has a nervous breakdown and returns to his burnt-out apartment.
Miller arrives, panicked, as Valentin is attempting suicide.
Peppy and George reconcile, and remembering that he is a superb dancer, she convinces Zimmer to let them make a musical together, and the picture ends with the implication that Valentin will return to fame again.
In the final shot, the sound finally comes in as the film starts rolling.
Afterwards, Zimmer calls 'Cut! Perfect. Beautiful. Could you give me one more?'.
Valentin, in his first audible line, replies in a clearly French accent, "With pleasure", revealing the reason he refused to speak on camera.
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Production
Director Michel Hazanavicius had been fantasizing about making a silent film for many years, both because many filmmakers he admires emerged in the silent era, and because of the image-driven nature of the format.
According to Hazanavicius his wish to make a silent film was at first not taken seriously, but after the financial success of his spy-film pastiches OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies and OSS 117: Lost in Rio, producers started to express interest.
SOURCE: "The Artist (film)"
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
As you know, I read quite a few reviews, which were mostly positive, but I wasn't convinced. A movie with NO dialogue cannot be that great.
So, you were disappointed, weren't you?
No, not quite... Actually, I liked the movie because the performances of both Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo were elegant and delightful, but I must say that, halfway through, the movie became quite slow with no dialogues. I almost dropped into a dead sleep like the mysterious lady at Joe Fortes Library.
I agree with you, Diane.
Kato, did you see the movie?
Oh, no, but I saw the trailer. Besides, I also read quite a few reviews. As you told, most of the reviews are favorable, but some say that making a silent film at present isn't a serious endeavour. I got the same gut feeling as you had, Diane, when I read your mail.
A movie with NO dialogue cannot be that great.
That's right. We're living in the days of talkies so that our minds always create so many dialogues in the brain even if we see a silent movie. Therefore, as you told, the silent movie becomes quite slow with no dialogues. Whenever I see a silent movie, I stop viewing within the first ten minutes 'cause I cannot stand the sugguishness anymore. My mind feels the movie so dull that my brain goes to sleep.
Silent movies are so dull, aren't they?
You're telling me, Diane. But there are two exceptions?
Oh...? What is it?
Ben-Hur of 1925.
Ben-Hur of 1925
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This silent movie was made with almost 4 million dollars at the time---the most expensive silent film ever made, and became a mega spectacle with 120,000 extras. The film of the chariot-race scene became 60 kilometer long so that it was shortened to 229 meter by edit. I borrowed the DVD from Joe Fortes Library and enjoyed it immensely. Diane, you're gonna love it.
What makes you think so?
Well..., unlike Ben-hur 0f 1959, the silent version is like a Christmas movie.
Ben-Hur of 1959
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Tell me about it.
The birth of Christ was filmed in the silent version, and three wise men watched the sparkling star fall from the sky. You can see Mother of God as well. So, you'll be able to show it to the kids in your church the next X'mas.
Is that all?
Oh, no...the current prints of the 1925 version are from the Turner-supervised restoration, which includes the color tints and Technicolor sections, set to resemble the original theatrical release. There is an addition of a newly recorded stereo orchestral soundtrack by Carl Davis with the London Philharmonic Orchestra that was originally recorded for a Thames Television screening of the movie.
Where can I find it?
It can be found at Joe Fortes Library. You'll find the DVD complete with the Technicolor segments---the four-disc collector's edition of the 1959 version starring Charlton Heston.
I can hardly wait to see the silent version. By the way, what is the other exception?
A good and timely question, Diane! It is called "Double suicide of Sonezaki."
Wow! What a deadly and shocking title! I don't think I've ever heard of that.
It's a Japanese film made in 1978.
Double Suicide of Sonezaki
(Opening Scene)
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This isn't a silent movie, is it?
No, it isn't. The silent version is actually a Japanese puppet show.
Japanese puppet show
文楽人形浄瑠璃
曽根崎心中 (下之巻)
お初徳兵衛道行
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What is so fascinating about this puppet show?
You see, puppets don't talk, but their movements are elegant, subtle, and delicate. Those puppeteers are recognized as "human-treasure" in Japan. Manipulated and controlled by those experts, the movements of those puppets are actually more sophisticated than human actors.
Yes, I can tell.
Can you?
But "Double suicide" is againt my religion.
I know...I know...I don't mean that you should accept double suicide. I just wanna tell you that Michel Hazanavicius, the director of "The Artist," might as well perform the drama as a French puppet show.
(To be followed)