The Artist is a twenty first century black and white silent movie. That sentence is just in conflict…

In this age of technology, it’s hard to allow oneself to relax even in the enjoyment of a movie. The Artist is your test.

It’s the story of a silent movie actor in the prime of his career – until – talkies come along. The story holds true to what we’ve all heard about that time. Many actors had a hard time adjusting to sound and pictures and all of that happened just as the great depression was beginning.

There was nothing modern about it. It was purely authentic. The wardrobe… the props… the style… everything. It was a bit of a departure…

We’re used to fast-paced, loud movies, big screen effects and sophisticated graphics. The Artist had none of that either.

What it does have is a touching story of gratitude and loyalty. George Valentin is a popular silent movie star and Peppy Miller is an admirer. Through a series of happenstance, the two end up on a picture together and George mentors her into stardom. Ironically, his star begins falling while hers is rising.

The most poignant scene is after George is told that talkies are coming, he has a dream where he can hear everything around him, but, he can’t speak. He picks up a glass to drink and when he puts it back down, he can hear the sound on the table. He can hear his footsteps across the floor. But, when he tries to speak, no words. Very dramatic and very well done.

But, the standout in this film is the strong relationships. George and his dog, George and his driver, George and Peppy. You can’t hear anything and you don’t get to read much. You have to feel everything about this movie.

This is active viewing, not passive. Like when you watch sub-titled movies. The difference in this case is that, even the full screens of dialogue are few and far between. So the characters talk throughout the entire film, but, you either have to figure out what they’re saying either by their facial expressions or by reading their lips. Active viewing…

I’ve watched silent films before, but, it was very difficult re-acclimating to no sound. It was a true test of patience. If you’re not a patient person, don’t see this film. This is not a film for high-energy people either. But, if you appreciate true representations of our entertainment history – you’ll like it. And of course, if you’re a sucker for a love story, see it right away…