The Artist (2011)

I finally saw The Artist. And this time, it was worth the wait. The film is almost entirely silent, which is odd, though it works, and entirely in black and white, which may bother some people, but it doesn't bother me.
The film is basically Singin' in the Rain meets A Star is Born, and just like both of those films this one is also great. George Valentin (Jean Durjardin) is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, and the audiences love him. He's the Douglas Fairbanks of his day, swashbuckling his way to stardom though he also has the ability to be a song and dance man. He's cool, an everyman, but then sound comes into play, and George can't believe it. He doesn't think that sound will catch on, but he's wrong, way wrong. Though he tries to fight sound, he loses, and falls into oblivion and bankruptcy. But when one star falls, another rises, in this case, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo, lighting up the screen whenever she is on), who, ironically enough gets her big start from none other than George. Peppy starts at as an extra, who can really dance, but she quickly climbs the ranks and becomes the superstar that George once was. Still, she has not forgotten him, in fact, she's his biggest fan, with a whole room of his memorabilia in her house. She also tries to safe George from his own self-loathing, but will he let himself be loved again? Will he grab the life vest Penny tossed him?
There are also other characters, including Clifton (James Cromwell), George's loyal butler, who refuses to leave George's side, but after George's fortune disappears, he must leave as George forces him to do just that, and so he does, only to be hired by Peppy. Then there is the studio head, who loves George, but then finds him a burden when sound begins, played well by John Goodman. Penelope Ann Miller is George's wife, who is icy and close-minded among other things and once his money dries up, so does her affection. But the best performances are from George and Peppy. Both received Golden Globe nominations, and Dujardin won, and deservingly so. Though the film is risky, it is also incredibly enjoyable, and a marvel. And it comes complete with a cute dog, Uggie, who basically steals the film. Overall, this is one of the best, if not the best, film of the year, and fortunately, the Oscars agreed. Grade: A