The Artist

The Artist

Directed by Machel Hazanavicius

With Jean DuJardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, and

John Cromwell

“The Artist,” an all new silent film in black and white, is as much fun as any ‘talkie.’ This utterly delightful film doesn’t need words to tell its story. French Director and writer Michel Hazanavicius  has composed a love letter to the past. The time is 1927 and we find matinee idol George Valentin (Jean DuJardin) on top of the world. He is a silent film star with a thousand-watt smile, starring in everything from adventure films to romances. His loyal Jack Russell terrier (Uggi) accompanies him wherever he goes. One day he literally bumps into Peppy (Berenice Bejo), a walk-on extra. The sparks fly. And he takes her under his wing, getting her successively larger parts in his films.  

But then it is 1929. Not only is the stock market about to crash, but so is Valentin. The studio Boss (John Goodman) has noticed Peppy and has also decided that the future of film is in the “talkies.” Peppy gets the starring roles, but Valentin wants nothing to do with these new kind of movies.

He finances his own silent film, which is a colossal flop. His fortunes crumble.

Valentin is now a “has been,”  and quickly discovers his own insignificance. Peppy is the exciting new star du jour. The scenes of Valentin losing his self esteem and his fortunes are cleverly realized and acted with a poignancy that will surely tug at your heartstrings. As much as Valentin suffers, Peppy’s stardom accelerates. Nonetheless, he longs for her and she has never forgotten his kindnesses to her. 

“The Artist” is not a totally silent film. Aside from some printed subtitles, there is a musical score as well as several spoken words. But dialogue is irrelevant because the silence speaks volumes.  Both Jean DuJardin and Bernice Bejo give flawless performances, never overacting. A film such as “The Artist” could have been done in a campy manner, but the lead performances are just right.

For people who are familiar with silent film, “The Artist” serves up a nostalgia that is nearly painful. There is a sense of a longing for the innocence and simplicity reflected in that medium: free of the murmur of voices, the clinking of glassware , the blaring of horns, the racket of car chases, the cacophony of life. That “The Artist” is in black and white makes it all the more reminiscent of that bygone era. It seems we have lost much with the technology and sophistication of modern filmmaking.

Director Michel Hazanavicius has made it possible for us to take a joyous and fun-filled journey to the past. You will surely embrace the experience as also the most delightful and exciting film to come our way in a long time. This charming film gives us a joyous journey to the past.

The Descendents

The Descendents

Directed by Alexander Payne

With George Clooney, Amara Miller, Alex Woodley. Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Matthew Lillard, and Judy Greer

A drama about a family grieving over the loss of a mother might not sound like cinema amusement. But “The Descendents,” directed by Alexander Payne, is exactly that. This heartfelt film is both tragic and humorous at the same time.

The drama unfolds in Hawaii. Matt King (George Clooney) has buried himself in a real estate deal involving 25,000 unspoiled acres of Hawaiian paradise that have been owned by his extended family for generations. This land is about to be sold to a land developer. He is the trustee and must sign for the deal to go through. Meanwhile, he has also been a remote husband and father.

However, Matt is distracted. His wife, Elizabeth, has had a boating accident and lies in a coma from which the doctors say she will not recover. He now must break the news to his daughters, 10-year-old Scotty (Amara Miller), and a troublesome teenage Alexandra (Shailene Woodley). As he is reeling from this tragedy, his surly and resentful daughter Alexandra informs him that Elizabeth was cheating on him with a local real estate guy.  

Matt struggles with becoming both mother and father to his daughters as he confronts his rage towards his comatose wife. He is furious with her, but has no way to reach her, since she lies in a coma.  

In the meantime, Alexandra is accompanied by Sid (Nick Krause), a sweet but baffled looking boy, who adds comic perspective to what is going on in the family drama. Complicating Matt’s life is Elizabeth’s father (Robert Forster), who blames Matt for Elizabeth’s accident and thinks his daughter was a saint. Alexandra remains contemptuous of her father. Scotty is lost in grief.

Matt contemplates the meaning of his family heritage as he ponders whether to sign off on the sale of the family ‘Eden” on Kuai. His extended clan fully expects him to sign. He also must create a future for his own family.

George Clooney’s performance is nuanced and honest, and surely he will receive an Oscar nod. His Matt is a study of mixed emotions. Shailene Woodley is right on as the sullen daughter. Robert Forster is excellent as the father who has no where to displace his hostility except towards his son-in-law . 

Alexander Payne, whose last film was ‘Sideways,’ is a director who is a keen and tender observer of people in crisis and who understands human foibles. He seems to be saying: In life you certainly will make mistakes, but don’t let that keep you from going forward. His characters are remarkably human and real. And he is able to make us laugh throughout this beautiful, emotionally complex film that deals with tragic loss. In addition, the setting in lush Eden- like Hawaii is pure pleasure to experience on the big screen.