The Artist (new silent film)

[Random_Spock]

I finally saw this on Saturday ... only took a few months to get to Omaha. Sigh. Anyway, it was a *very* small crowd ... as in, we started with five, and ended with three. Two complained about 10 minutes or so in "Why aren't they talking? We have to READ the movie? Why don't they just talk?" and stormed out.

I thought it was pretty much fantastic, and am glad I got the chance to finally see it, after hearing about it for so many months.

Wow. People don't even give this film a chance. Yes you have to read subtitles, but doing that isn't that hard to do.

Heck I wish I could see it where I'm at, but sadly the only theaters that have it are the richer ones . The ones in the suburbs, mainly have junk films in them.

So now, I'll be waiting until it comes out on dvd.


It seems as if a lot of movies that are put out these days seem to be playing to the lowest denominator. It's sad, really . A lot of the really good films aren't even shown in the area where I live.

I remember reading something in a local paper about 3 years ago that dealt with this issue. The guy who wrote it said, that the movie people didn't think that people in the area would understand any Oscar-worthy films... <-- paraphrased. I was incensed about this to say the least .

They figured that the people in the area are all a bunch of ignorant red necks (which is true in part... but not completely) -- talk about stereotyping...

*edit: Just found a good article by Roger Ebert from December 28th that deals with a similar situation...

http://www.rogerebert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111228/COMMENTARY/111229973/

Disclaimer: From rogerebert.com.

#6 on his list deals with how the movie people tend to think that small time movie goers wouldn't like art movies... which isn't the case. He looked it up on Netflix and found out that the opposite is true.

 

[Ethros]

^ I don't get why anyone would agree/want to take time out from their lives, pretty much a whole evening, in going to the cinema, pay the admission ticket (which these days can be quite pricey) to watch a film they know NOTHING about. I mean I understand you don't wanna be too spoiled, but at least have some vague idea what is, ie. a zombie movie, a comedy, a romcom etc, erm... a SILENT movie. Idiots.

I've seen the movie nine times so far, (and may make it ten tonight)

Jesus. Do they give out free blowjobs at your local cinema as well or something?
Not a comment on the film, just going NINE times to see the same film seems a bit OTT for me. I love movies but it's pretty rare I even go twice, three max. By the third time I've got all I want from it and can happily wait for the DVD (which nowadays is only like 3-4 months after cinema openings anyway)

 

[Random_Spock]

^ I don't get why anyone would agree/want to take time out from their lives, pretty much a whole evening, in going to the cinema, pay the admission ticket (which these days can be quite pricey) to watch a film they know NOTHING about. I mean I understand you don't wanna be too spoiled, but at least have some vague idea what is, ie. a zombie movie, a comedy, a romcom etc, erm... a SILENT movie. Idiots.

I've seen the movie nine times so far, (and may make it ten tonight)

Jesus. Do they give out free blowjobs at your local cinema as well or something?
Not a comment on the film, just going NINE times to see the same film seems a bit OTT for me. I love movies but it's pretty rare I even go twice, three max. By the third time I've got all I want from it and can happily wait for the DVD (which nowadays is only like 3-4 months after cinema openings anyway)

Me neither. It seems as if people don't want to think these days or even look a movie up and find out what it's about before going to it.

 

[auntiehill]

^And I WON'T go to a movie, unless I've looked it up, read a review or some such. But with movie prices what they are, I'll just go to see a movie once. If I really love it, I can buy the DVD later, or Netflix it.

 

[Random_Spock]

^And I WON'T go to a movie, unless I've looked it up, read a review or some such. But with movie prices what they are, I'll just go to see a movie once. If I really love it, I can buy the DVD later, or Netflix it.

Same here. If the movie doesn't look good to me review wise or even on preview wise, I won't even go to see it.

Definitely. Prices are just out of this world these days when it comes down to films. Especially anything in 3d.

a nice review about it by Roger Ebert

Disclaimer: From rogerebert.suntimes.com.

He hits the nail on the head there. He liked it so much he saw it three times .

 

[Kelso]

I desperately want to see this at the cinema... but the universe seems to be conspiring against me.

 

[The Lensman]

^ I don't get why anyone would agree/want to take time out from their lives, pretty much a whole evening, in going to the cinema, pay the admission ticket (which these days can be quite pricey) to watch a film they know NOTHING about. I mean I understand you don't wanna be too spoiled, but at least have some vague idea what is, ie. a zombie movie, a comedy, a romcom etc, erm... a SILENT movie. Idiots.

I've seen the movie nine times so far, (and may make it ten tonight)

Jesus. Do they give out free blowjobs at your local cinema as well or something?
Not a comment on the film, just going NINE times to see the same film seems a bit OTT for me. I love movies but it's pretty rare I even go twice, three max. By the third time I've got all I want from it and can happily wait for the DVD (which nowadays is only like 3-4 months after cinema openings anyway)

LOL! No, unfortunately. And three is usually the most I'll see a movie, if even that. However, as something of a silent film buff, I never thought I'd get to see an actual silent film in a theater.

Never.

Sure, once in a blue moon there'll be some isolated event that will have the local Museum of Fine Arts show a silent....like when the newest version of Metropolis hit. But these are one off's, and unless you're keeping up with their schedule and have the time off...you miss it like I did.

So this is literally an experience that I never thought I'd get to have in my life. And unless silents have some sort of resurgence, however brief, I'll probably never have this again. So I'm enjoying it while I can.


In my initial post, I said that this was a movie that had to be seen at the "theater", not "the big screen". Normally I'm only too happy to see whatever movie I'm seeing in a largely empty theater because I'm there for it to be on the largest screen.

In the case of The Artist, it's there to see on the big screen, but with people as well. Probably the only time in my movie going life that I can say this. It has been far more enjoyable seeing it in a crowded theater...although in this case, the crowded theater is the artsy theater and the max seating was 120. It's been, for the most part, very enjoyable experiencing it with a crowd.

Watching people "get it" and enjoying themselves. Hearing people express surprise to each other, afterwards, about how much they enjoyed seeing a silent movie.

Again, this is something I never thought I'd get to experience and probably never will again. So I'm enjoying this moment.

YMMV of course.

 

[Ethros]

Me neither. It seems as if people don't want to think these days or even look a movie up and find out what it's about before going to it.

Exactly. That's why I never get people who walk out of cinemas. I've never done it, and can't see why I ever would. Sometimes I might go see a movie that's definitely not as good as I thought it would be, but there'll still be something in there to make me stay. Plus, by the time you've given a movie enough time to make a valid call on it, it's probably past the halfway point anyway, so you may as well stay and see what happens.

I could understand maybe if you're some ultra conservative, and weren't expecting to see some strong violence/nudity etc... but then isn't that what the ratings are for? If it's a genre that's totally not to your tastes why are you watching it? Unless you've been dragged along on a date or with a friend, then in that case it'd be a bit rude to just leave them.


Well thinking about it I've seen these sorts of people hanging around cinema lobbies. They don't even look beforehand what's on what times things are on, they just show up and stand there starring up at the board for seemingly forever. I guess they just pick one at random based purely on the name... like I say, idiots



/rant

 

[Starkers]

Well interestingly I went to see Haywire last night, and two different groups of people walked out during the first half hour. I don't know if they'd been missold it as an action film (it is but not an action film) or what I don't know.

More amusing was the gang of teenaged boys in the queue in front of me who seemed really taken by the poster for Coriolanus and asked the guy behind the counter what it was like. "It's Shakespeare," he said...I think they went to see The Sitter

I've never walked out of a film, although a few years ago I went to see T4 on my own and popped to the loo midway, and seriously I did consider just keeping walking...

 

[scnj]

I generally know something about a film before going to the cinema. I've gone in blind once or twice, but considering I pay £15 a month for unlimited films, it's not much of a risk.

 

[tomalak301]

I just got back from seeing it and man did my expectations exceed throughout the movie. Before the movie, I was thinking how I hope a silent film does not end up winning best picture because, well, it's a silent film and the only one that's come in in the last, what, 20+ years? Then as I was watching it, I was greatly enjoying it and now I hope it does. This is a movie experience, with a great cast and a great story. There were some very chilling scenes and the music was masterful. I actually found it refreshing to see a movie like this in comparison with all those big blockbuster action movies and 3D gimmicks that are now being used.

I'm glad I saw it and I thought it was a fantastic film. Would definitely recommend to anyone.

 

[Rincewiend]

it's a silent film and the only one that's come in in the last, what, 20+ years?

Atleast 9...
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem. the Daft Punk movie was released in 2003 and is really a silent film...
No dialog even...

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqbSaOw0TvE[/yt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstella_5555:_The_5tory_of_the_5ecret_5tar_5ystem

Saw "The Artist" today and i really didn't miss the dialog, such a attention grabbing movie, very fun too...

 

[DarthPipes]

I saw this today and I absolutely loved it. It always takes me a little while to get into a film and I briefly though "I spent money to see a silent film" but I got hooked on it pretty quickly. To me, it definitely earned its Oscar nominations for Best Picture and the two leads, who were wonderful. The whole cast was terrifc, which is impressive without any dialogue. Hell, even the dog gives an MVP performance.

Great visuals as well, stuff that you would see in a film of that era. I was particularly impressed with the long shot of the three-floor staircase.

The film does veer into some dark territory in the second half but I was very pleased with how it ended. Just a great movie experience.

 

[The Lensman]

the only one that's come in in the last, what, 20+ years?

Well, this came out a few years ago....

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBc-V1_Wan8&feature=fvsr[/yt]

Some weird momentary pixelization in parts of the trailer.

 

[God Magnus]

I consider myself the kind of movie goer that favors big budget action movies, leaning towards scifi and so on. So I am almost the farthest thing from the target audience of this film. I went to go see it mostly for the novelty of the b/w and silent aspects. I wanted to see if they could pull it off, and I was super pleased to see them not only pull it off on a technical level but also completely pull me into the story. Ten minutes in I was hooked and the time seemed to fly by. The film deserves all the accolades and I totally plan on owning it on DVD once it's out!

 

[RJDiogenes]

the only one that's come in in the last, what, 20+ years?

Well, this came out a few years ago....

And it was fantastic.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Just went to see it this afternoon, wonderful film, but the heating in the cinema was broken and it was freezing, nearly left but was determined to see it at the cinema. Bearing in mind it was 12:50 on a Monday afternoon it was very busy. When I entered I was on my own, someone came in and sat behind me, which I dislike, I went to the toilet and when I came back there was about 10 more people in there. Then all through the adverts and trailers groups of 2 and 3 people were coming in until the screen was half full. Most people stayed through most if not all of the credits too, which I've never seen before, not even on films with post credit scenes.

 

[Kelso]

We saw it this weekend and LOVED it. Marvelous film.

 

[The Lensman]

the only one that's come in in the last, what, 20+ years?

Well, this came out a few years ago....

And it was fantastic.

Yes....yes, it was.

 

[Me-Ike]

I've just returned from it and well, I expected to like it. I am surprised at how much it exceeded my expectations!

I laughed, I sighed, I was genuinely shocked (those of you who saw the movie should know at what scene; you know, the one towards the end). Just a great movie which was an incredible experience to boot. People never clap at the movies in Germany; this is something that I always read about online but never experienced myself. They did here.

It also warms my heart that the cinema was packed, there was literally no available seat anymore. I really want everyone I know to watch The Artist now, too, dammit! I need to share my giddyness!