This is one of those movies that you will either love or hate…before the credits even roll.  We’re all used to the old silent movies and pretty soon into watching The Artist you settle in to the modern take on the oldest movie format.

Michel Hazanavicius is not the best known director out there, his best known works to date are the OSS 117 movies which, let’s face it, are not all that well known. This movie should change all that.

Don’t be fooled, it is a great movie, but one which you have to want to watch.  If silent movies shot in black and white about the silent movie era are not your thing then watch out.

However, if like me, you are open to the experience, then this movie rewards you.

Jean Dujardin, who has worked with Hazanavicius in the past gives a career redefining role, Berenice Bejo is equally as strong supporting the silent movie star.  I expect to see a lot more of these two in the future.

Without giving te game away the movie follows the ups and downs of two silent movie stars, one well established house-hold name and a rising young starlet as the talkies come to Hollywood.

The support acting from John Goodman and James Cromwell and others tops off a great movie.

The star of the show is Uggie the dog – he should have been nominated for something!

It would only be right to mention the off-screen team also. Firstly the incidental music really adds to the mood and intensity of scenes as the film progresses. The cinematography lends to the sence of fun in the movie, try to notice the different camera styles and shots; Hazanavicius was evidently having fun with his subtle tributes to Wells, Hitchcock and the rest, excellentlt done!

Go watch it! it is one of those movies where you’ll come out of the cinema asking was it a really good or bad movie, five minutes later you’ll have answered that question, in my case it falls into the category “really good”

Go see it.

Some upcoming blogs:

W.E. – the worst movie I’ve seen in years

Underworld: awakening – does what it says on the label

The Iron Lady – park your opinions and go see it

Haywire – mad, bad…but entertaining

J.Edgar

Coriolanus – what to do with one of his least loved plays…

The descendants

War Horse…