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rench-born filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius depicts the highs and lows of a Hollywood actor in an old-fashion but captivating way through The Artist.

Black-and-white silent movie The Artist has grabbed the attention of movie buffs after it dominated a number of film festivals, from the recent 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards and the 65th Baftas to Critics’ Choice Awards.

The film itself was named best comedy and movie in the aforementioned events, while both Michel Hazanavicius and Jean Dujardin, the leading star, picked up prizes for best director and best actor, respectively.

For this year’s Academy Awards, The Artist is coming second after Martin Scorsese’s Hugo in the nominations tally with 10, including writing and directing nominations for Hazanavicius, a best-actor prize for Dujardin and a supporting actress award for Bérénice Bejo.

Hazanavicius previously enjoyed critical and commercial success in 2006 with his spy-themed feature film titled OSS 117 – Cairo, Nest of Spies, also starring Dujardin and Bejo, and its sequel, OSS 117 – Lost in Rio three years later.

Now, the filmmaker brings a love story with classic American cinema during the silent cinema era of Hollywood as its backdrop. It tells the story of George Valentin,
a charming yet charismatic actor who is recognized for his thin moustache, tailed tux and white tie.

His versatility as a silent screen actor has made him into the money-maker of Kinograph, a movie studio run by Al Zimmer (played by John Goodman).

His accomplishments in the movie world have also brought him a luxurious mansion, a pretty and elegant wife, Doris (Penelope Ann Miller), and a trusted chauffeur named Clifton (James Cromwell), who drives him to and from the studio each day.

Valentin’s smiling image is seen everywhere, from the super huge portrait in his home to the posters on the walls of the Kinograph studio and the autographed photos for fans

He is always surrounded by reporters, who come to his film premieres to watch his movies and get his comments, as well as tons of euphoric fans who compete with each other to catch a glimpse of his face or his autograph.

The glamorous life, however, starts to fade as Valentin’s career as a silent-movie actor sinks with the advent of talking pictures. Valentin stands his ground on acting in silent movies, flatly refusing to be a part of the new technology.

The Artist also follows the story of Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), who idolizes Valentin and literally dances her way into the movie world.

The vivacious yet energetic young woman, who has a beaming smile, accidentally brushes shoulders with Valentin and this rare event later changes her life forever.

The Artist is certainly a challenge for the whole cast and crew as the silent movie relies more on images, music and the actors’ every move, mimic and expression with no audible aspects like words, tones, breath or all the things that an actor generally uses in the modern world of cinema.

The actors’ facial expressions and body language do all the talking.

The film may be set in the 1920s, but the story of Valentin’s circumstances surely remains a current issue in the movie industry. Hazanavicius well captures the fall of an actor, who sinks lower and lower with the passage of time.

Dujardin began his career in Paris comedy clubs and earned a best actor nomination at the César Awards for his work as a smooth spy in OSS 117 – Cairo, Nest of Spies, while Bejo, who made her feature film debut in Les Soeurs Hamelt (The Hamlet Sisters) in 1996, gives an equally brilliant performance as a newcomer who wins rave reviews in the budding talkies era.

James Cromwell, who earned a best supporting actor Academy Award nomination for his performance as Farmer Hoggett in Babe, plays an important part as Valentin’s devoted and reliable driver Clifton.

Clifton is more than just the man behind the steering wheel as he is Valentin’s right-hand man, the one who is always there for him when he is up or down.

Another key character to the cast is Uggie, starring as Valentin’s famous dog, which gets the full attention of the audience through his role as Valentin’s sidekick in movies as well as his best friend in real life.

 — Triwik Kurniasari

Verdict: A heartfelt yet entertaining drama wrapped in a simple love story and joyful comedy.