The sound of silence

Apologies for delay in this review as I know the film has been out for a couple of weeks now.

The Artist concerns a silent movie star at the height of his career and the trials and tribulations of moving into sound based movies or 'talkies'.
We also witness the relationship between the main star, George Valentin and Peppy Miller and up and coming actress, who was made for the big screen. As she flourishes in the advent of 'talkies' we see George lose everything as his career falls apart.
What sets this apart from other romantic comedy dramas...everything. The fact that it is shot in black and white and a mainly silent film are the obvious choices but alongside this you have the acting for starters. Jean (George) has one of the most infectious smiles I've seen in a long time and brilliantly conveys the charm and pride he feels whilst at the top of his game. Then you have Berenice (Peppy), whose love for George gives us a sense of hope throughout the film, alongside her fun nature and innocence within the filmmaking business add to the feel good element of the film.
I also really appreciated the cinematography throughout the film. There was a couple of extremely clever camera moves but for the most part it was just very well composed, almost photographically at times with the editing backing up the well placed shots. The score should also get a mention, as this at times acts as, as much of a storyteller as the narrative itself. Brilliantly composed, heartbreaking at times and it will have you reaching for your tap shoes by the end.
In general the story itself is cleverly put together with some stand out scenes that take the essence of silent movies with out being too over the top. A couple of scenes which stand out in which Peppy tries on Georges Jacket in his dressing room and when the two have a 'dance off' on either side of a background sheet from the set.
I feel I have to mention the dog in the film, as he seems to be as popular as the film itself. Without doubt one of the best dog characters in a film since...Beethoven, adding cleverly to the comedy as well as the drama.
All in all The Artist is an original film in every sense of the word and reminds us that even a simple romantic premise can still reach every emotion the audience has at the ready.