
The Artist is destined to be a victim of high expectations. I’m not referring to audiences who will see it inevitably clean up at the Golden Globes this weekend (and quite possibly the Oscars), but to those enticed by the allure of a return to the silent film era. I’m a big fan of silent film stars like Keaton, Chaplin, and Fairbanks, along with being a big fan of Astaire, Kelly, and Busby Berkeley– this film’s trailer was like cat nip for me. Ultimately, the constant allusions to great films like Citizen Kane, Vertigo, and Singin’ In The Rain (among others) serve mostly to inform the audience that this film isn’t great. It’s a charming, fun, but slight pastiche of cinematic history, with great performance, great production design, and a patchwork script.
Continue reading ‘The Artist: Not A Best Picture, But A Charming Picture’
Posted in Film Reviews
Tags: A Star Is Born, Academy Awards, Berenice Bejo, Best Picture, Busby Berkley, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Citizen Kane, Douglas Fairbanks, Film, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, James Cromwell, Jean DuJardin, John Goodman, Kim Novak, Malcolm MacDowell, Michel Hazanavicius, Missi Pyle, movies, Oscar buzz, silent film, silent movies, Singin in the Rain, The Artist, Vertigo