The Artist - The Cinema Club

100 minutes

France

Hollywood 1927. George Valentin is a very successful silent movie star. The arrival of talking pictures will mark the end of his career. Peppy Miller, a young woman extra, becomes a major movie star.

93% on the CINEMETER

88% - Dec 4, 2011

This film will live on in history, even if it does not win commercial success. Uggie the dog is more deserving of an Oscar than Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe. [numerous other dog should win Oscar and I want that dog type comments]
Washington, DC Member

Can this be a great movie? It was exhilarating for me! Silent, B&W, limited aspect ratio, captions-- this film shouldn't have worked today, but it did! And held one surprise after another.
Washington, DC Member

Amazing what can be expressed without dialogue. Delightful! So fun! Music was terrific. I just loved the shadows and reflections. It really channelled old movies. A Star is Born and Singin' in the Rain. Such enjoyable nostalgia for film historians! I sat there for 100 minutes with a big goofy grin on my face.
Washington, DC Member

STL

99% - Dec 11, 2011

Enthralling - A universal story of the losses of life as young replaces old, and of the danger of clinging to the past as time and technology move on.
St. Louis Member

Fascinating film. Great style and attention to detail. . .Great fun.
St. Louis Member

Initially I was sceptical whether I would enjoy the movie, since I am not a fan of silent movies. But The Arist is a winner. Expect it to win many awards.
St. Louis Member

85% - Nov 13, 2011

Absolutely wonderful; left me speechless!
San Francisco Member

It was such a sweet surprise to experience such a range of emotion without words. Exquisite cinematography, wonderful score.
San Francisco Member

What a good and timely reminder that Hollywood belongs to the world. It began with foreigners and new immigrants and somewhere along the line we stopped appreciating that. A salute to the day when films were by and for everyone.
San Francisco Member

93% - Dec 4, 2011

I really dislike silent films but OMG this was such a gift.

Greater New Haven Member

So clever, so inspired. The love and attention that went into making this film is stunning.
Greater New Haven Member

Beautiful love story - I waited the whole movie to see them have sex! I will go now and watch some silent movies.
Greater New Haven Member

MIL

96% - Dec 11, 2011

The film said more without words than 99% of modern movies. Incredible concept very well realized.
Milwaukee Member

Very different. Well done. Film was why we enjoy the movie club so much.
Milwaukee Member

Acting was great. The dog deserves a best supporting actor nomination. The music was excellent.
Milwaukee Member

BOS

92% - Dec 4, 2011

Outstanding film. Imagery was wonderful. musical score was perfection. Deserves all the Oscar buzz. Especially loved the staircase scenes. He was always going down and she was always going up.
Boston Member

Excellently done sets and decoration, and the acting was terrific but the effect of music-based sound is paramount (no pun intended). I really liked the opportunity to consider film as a photographic medium.
Boston Member

I was struck by the issues of inevitable dislocation of any major change in any industry, especially Valentin's resistance/inability to venture into new territory. Interesting portrait in a very enjoyable context.
Boston Member

BOCA

95% - Dec 4, 2011

Best original screenplay. This is a very clever movie.
Boca Raton Member

Many said that acting and music were very good. Loved hearing voices at end of movie.
Boca Raton Member

So fun! So stylistic! Music was terrific. I just loved the shadows and reflections. It really channelled old movies.
Boca Raton Member

ATL

98% - Dec 11, 2011

What a delight! A clever love affair with the art of film making and its origins. Tells a strong story about the hardship to navigate change. A bold piece of art in a time of special effects and technology.
Atlanta Member

A celebration of the magic which movies can bring to our lives. Not a small thing in these difficult times.
Atlanta Member

Utterly charming. Loved many of the visual metaphors, esp. George inert on stairs with Peppy and life going on around them.
Atlanta Member

The Weinstein Company