ARCHIVES 1

ARCHIVES

‘The Artist’ is old-fashioned movie-making at its best

By Don Morris/Contributing Writer

“The Artist” has my highest recommendation, and it should win the Academy Award for best film of the year.

Before seeing the movie at the Palm Theatre, I never dreamed a black-and-white, silent film could be so exceptional or that the full-house audience would give it a round of applause at the end of the movie.

“The Artist” is old-fashioned moviemaking and is an absolute contrast to the shoot-’em-up, profanity-laced, the-louder-the-better movies in theaters today.

The film was shot in Hollywood and Los Angeles, and when I was a youngster — back in the 1940s — black-and-white films were common in Hollywood theaters.

“The Artist” took me back to the “golden days” of watching matinees and paying a 10-cent admission fee.

You certainly will be impressed with the French stars of the film that included Jean Dujardin, who did an exceptional job of acting as the silent-movie superstar who had lost his voice, and Berenice Bejo, who is the face of the movies when sound was introduced in the early 1920s.

At the end of the film, get ready for a surprise when the stars show their outstanding dancing abilities.

I should also alert you there is another star in the film, the very clever Jack Russell terrier who steals scene after scene and also deserves some sort of Oscar.

Several of the supporting actors were perfect in their roles, including John Goodman, who played the old-time movie mogul, and James Cromwell, the loyal friend and driver to the one-time super movie star.

I can’t say enough about the film’s 1920s music. It fit the flavor of the era and was an ideal background for the various scenes.

q q q

On a scale of F- to A+, I gave “The Artist” a rating of A++ for being the best film of the year, and French actors Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo should have a good shot at celebrating Oscar wins.

If you have comments about this review, respond to me at dmmorris@calpoly.edu, and I will try to work your opinions into my next column.

Don Morris was born 81 years ago near Hollywood Boulevard, has lived in Shell Beach for the past 20 years and is a Cal Poly emeritus professor and administrator and retired Navy commander.