The Artist

[mummyjohn]

Well I 'liked it so much' I'm going back again to see it 'before' it leaves the BIG SCREEN

As far as some thoughts of it being 'slow in parts,' it is a European Movie and possibly this serves to highlight the 'transatlantic' differences and cultural conditioning of what we expect from films (as well as other things in life). [huh]

I honestly didn't know it was European going in. In the interest of full disclosure, I didn't know anything going in. My folks and I wanted to go out to the cinema, and this was the one thing playing that I had not heard anything about, so naturally I said "let's see that one!"


Long story short, I was pleased (as my other post said), but I at no point found it "slow," and am rather surprised that it has gotten that review anywhere - I just plain don't see where the argument could come from.

 

[vitanola]

"I at no point found it 'slow,' and am rather surprised that it has gotten that review anywhere - I just plain don't see where the argument could come from."

No explosions, methinks.

 

[mummyjohn]

To assume the worst of people before assuming the best is a naive response. People respond to things that are good.

 

[Feraud]

My wife and I saw The Artist last night and loved it. The story reminded me of A Star is Born. Jean Dujardin who stars in The Artist bears a passing resemblance to Fredric March. It is a very enjoyable film that I hope many people go see.

 

[Edward]

If you get a chance, check out OSS 117: Cairo. Its the same two leads as in The Artist. A spoof of 1960's french spy films. Really well done. That's the film that forced me ... FORCED ME! ... to fall head over heels for Bérénice Bejo.

I saw one of those - I think it was Nest of Spies? - a couple of years ago on TV. Adored it. An awful lot of French cinema I've seen is terribly depressing: lots of impossibly cool people sit around being very unhappy, they have loads of sex, but no-one ever enjoys it, and in the end, they all die. The only mystery half the time is whether someone will live long enough to be murdered or if they'll chainsmoke themselves to death first. Their comedies, though..... ah, now that's another matter. They really know how to work a gag without over-labouring it. bit of subtlety... wonderful. Always worth checking out the French original of a comedy remake as well - Les Visiteurs is so much better than Just visiting.

 

[Chasseur]

An awful lot of French cinema I've seen is terribly depressing: lots of impossibly cool people sit around being very unhappy, they have loads of sex, but no-one ever enjoys it, and in the end, they all die. The only mystery half the time is whether someone will live long enough to be murdered or if they'll chainsmoke themselves to death first. Their comedies, though..... ah, now that's another matter. They really know how to work a gag without over-labouring it. bit of subtlety... wonderful. Always worth checking out the French original of a comedy remake as well - Les Visiteurs is so much better than Just visiting.

I could not have said it better myself Edward. Even though I am a Francophile and love many French films those depressing and nihalistic films that tend to win at Cannes and have Isabelle Hubert in them just do not work for me... But as you said they do comedies very well and period pieces.

 

[bunnyb.gal]

The Piano Teacher made my head hurt for about a month...

 

[LizzieMaine]

There are some pleasant French comedies. We had a film here last month called "The Women on the 6th Floor," which was basically a French twist on "The Help" -- and for my money, it was the better film. Laughs, heart, and a happy ending all around.

The French *invented* pretentious filmmaking, of course, and raised it to a high art, but they can have a lighter side when they try.

 

[ButteMT61]

There are some pleasant French comedies. We had a film here last month called "The Women on the 6th Floor," which was basically a French twist on "The Help" -- and for my money, it was the better film. Laughs, heart, and a happy ending all around.

The French *invented* pretentious filmmaking, of course, and raised it to a high art, but they can have a lighter side when they try.

Agree on "...6th floor.". Really liked it.

 

[Chasseur]

The Piano Teacher made my head hurt for about a month...

Yes, I would add Merci pour le chocolate as well...

 

[brothelcreeper]

Just got home from seeing it and I have to say I expected more.

That's not to say it wasn't a solid film, I guess I had higher expectations, based on the hype.

There were some really clever things in it, like the Citizen Kane homage when George is first played a talkie. Room full of smoke and when the projector is shut off, just the two squares of light on the back wall beaming light into the room. The final shot is sublime as well, a piece of camera work that could have come right out of the period.

I mean, it was good, it just wasn't perfect, as I expected it to be.

It might have something to do with the fact I saw 'The Cranes Are Flying', the 1957 Russian film, last night which was one of the best films I've ever seen.

 

[PADDY]

Might be worth 'never "expecting" perfection, as it's a sure-fire way to set oneself up for disappointment. Plus, 'one man's meat is another man's poisson' - it's very subjective. But overall, it's great that you enjoyed it

 

[Mr Vim]

I know this probably wasn't their intention but the film sort of nods to the idea of a sequel being a star studded golden era musical with big song and dance numbers (it being the middle of the night I can only think of Blue Skies)...
wouldn't that be great?

 

[Edward]

I know this probably wasn't their intention but the film sort of nods to the idea of a sequel being a star studded golden era musical with big song and dance numbers (it being the middle of the night I can only think of Blue Skies)...
wouldn't that be great?

If done right, yes. All too many sequels are, alas, a wholly unnecessary blight on the cinematic landscape. Once too often I've seen a sequel made because the brand sells well, but where there is no reason for it artistically, narratively, whatever. Made today, Casablanca would have some diabolical Hollywood "happy ending" (hell, even made forty years ago - look at how they utterly ruined the ending of Breakfast at Tiffany's), and if it sold well there would be a sequel where Bogart and Bergman fought the Nazis together while looking like they might fall out of love until they don't. Ghastly. Anyhow..... a sequel would be fine if it is good, but not for the sake of it for a saleable brand. Of course, one must remember Hollywood makes money, not art...... Bah.

Ignore me. I'm grumpy today.

 

[Mr Vim]

Perhaps sequel is the wrong word, spiritual successor maybe? Because obviously the film would have more sound, music, and maybe color!
It would not even have to be titled as the Artist, anyways, I'm just looking for Hollywood to make a big musical like they used to, not like the ones they make today.

 

[Edward]

Perhaps sequel is the wrong word, spiritual successor maybe? Because obviously the film would have more sound, music, and maybe color!
It would not even have to be titled as the Artist, anyways, I'm just looking for Hollywood to make a big musical like they used to, not like the ones they make today.

Yeah, it would be interesting. I can't see it happening, though.... Hairspray not so much (love the stage show, but John Travolta's very poor performance limited enjoyment of the film for me. A shame, as Christopher Walken as Wilbur was a revelation, and whoever cast him in that role is a genius), but The Producers had that old school feel to me, and neither of them sold that well at UK cinemas. The last big musical that passed through our cinemas was Burton's Sweeney Todd. Much like The Artist, it was the subject of walkouts and complaints from folks who thought they were there to see a "normal" film and were outraged to discover it was "a musical". Not a traditional musical, maybe, but one of those would get the same complaints. I think Burton and Depp made it still very profitable so maybe that wouldn't be a block, I don't know.

 

[mummyjohn]

...The Producers had that old school feel to me, and neither of them sold that well at UK cinemas. The last big musical that passed through our cinemas was Burton's Sweeney Todd. Much like The Artist, it was the subject of walkouts and complaints from folks who thought they were there to see a "normal" film and were outraged to discover it was "a musical"....

Honestly, how do people live with themselves? I don't want to jump right to name calling, but are they morons? I mean, if someone gave me a random glass of soda and I expected Coke but got Barq's instead, I'd be surprised but delighted. Just because an experience is not what I was expecting doesn't mean it is deteriorated. The movie Swingers was very, very different from what I was expecting when I started watching it, but I really enjoyed it and would call it one of my favorites; I happen to think it was well shot and very well written.

The point being, just because you think you want one thing this second does not mean you should close your mind to everything else for the time being. In fact, I'd venture to say we fall in love when we least expect it more frequently than not.

 

[Worf]

Saw this fine film TWICE in the last week or so. Amazing film I went a second time because the first time I viewed it was in some cramped art house theatre in Rhinebeck. I'm not the smallest guy but there I was sqooshed between the wall and some old lady. I spent most of the movie worried about whether the blood would ever return to my lower extremities. I couldn't move or change seats... sold out!.

I went again last night to the Spectrum and had a much more enjoyable time. It's amazing to think that up until 1929 or so ALL movies were silent. And this one goes with the double whammy of B&W AND Silence. After the first minute you don't notice it at all. Great acting, marvelous story telling and a wonderful "script"? In that I know how sappy H'Wood is and how much they LOVE films about themselves I think "The Artist" will clean up at the Oscars. Great costumes by the by. Hell great everything!

Worf

 

[LizzieMaine]

Perhaps sequel is the wrong word, spiritual successor maybe? Because obviously the film would have more sound, music, and maybe color!
It would not even have to be titled as the Artist, anyways, I'm just looking for Hollywood to make a big musical like they used to, not like the ones they make today.

If they were really gutsy they'd make the sequel along the lines of a musical c. 1930, the sort of thing that silent stars cut their sound teeth on: Proscenium-style musical numbers with kickline choruses, exotic settings, and semi-operatic vocals, shot in two-color Technicolor for added pizzazz. Maybe Berenice Bejo sings like Bebe Daniels....

 

[PADDY]

It's a good movie as it stands. Be daft to try to follow up on it with "the musical." Accept & enjoy it for what it is.