If it's what I think you're talking about, then then only thing I could think (after my sigh of relief, of course) was "you sons of bitches. That was mean."
The Artist (new silent film)
- Thread starter The Lensman
- Start date
If it's what I think you're talking about, then then only thing I could think (after my sigh of relief, of course) was "you sons of bitches. That was mean."
Let me preface this by saying that I'm a huge silent movies fan (mostly of German expressionism) and many of them are among my favourite films.
I was deeply impressed by the trailer and as there aren't that many new silent movies these days I had to see it at the cinema, of course. (The cinema experience isn't anything new or special to me in that regard as it is for Lensman because I've seen plenty of silent movies in the cinema. Also, nothing can beat seeing the newly restored version of Metropolis - the film now being almost complete is a dream come true in itself - in front of the Brandenburg Gate out in the snow during the Berlinale 2010 amidst a lively crowd.)
It is a very good film and it's extremely well made. I loved the directing work on this one and the way they used sound and silence. The dream sequence was already mentioned. While they made a modern film be silent work the film also showed quite impressively why that era is gone and I say that as someone who believes it was the high point of film art. The dream sequence where George suddenly can hear the sounds and noises of the world demonstrated what you can do with sound in a movie - something that we don't appreciate often. It reminded me of the time I first saw "Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse" - Fritz Lang's second non-silent movie. These early sound movies were silent a lot of the time and sounds were used as an artistic means. In that movie there is a scene where the screen goes dark and you only hear a gunshot, for example.
"The Artist" is a modern movie but done in an old technique. They did some things that you wouldn't see in an original silent movie - the self-deprecation and joking on the intertitles (e.g. the blackmailing scene). That actually worked surprisingly well but it's not something I expected. I only know Jean Dujardin from the OSS 117 movies so I see him mostly as a comedian playing silly types. There was a bit of that in his role here, too, but he does have an impressive range and a very emoting face. The acting was superb overall.
I must say I'm not as overwhelmed as I thought I would be but I'd like to see it at least once more (on DVD or so) before passing judgement. I'm certainly interested in learning more about the movie, e.g. in what language the actors talked to each other, what the script looked like and whether that's really how Jean Dujardin's English sounds.
I did - twice, I think. One was a sneak preview which turned out to be the Charlie's Angels remake and after half an hour I decided that it was a waste of my time. And the other was Pulp Fiction. I went with my Mom on recommendation by my elder brother and we decided to leave early. Later, I saw it in its entirety (more than once in fact), though.
They usually do that in the part of Germany where I live. And they did so in this case, too. It was a lively crowd with one idiot who always yelled some thing or another until someone told him to shut up.
I was deeply impressed by the trailer and as there aren't that many new silent movies these days I had to see it at the cinema, of course. (The cinema experience isn't anything new or special to me in that regard as it is for Lensman because I've seen plenty of silent movies in the cinema. Also, nothing can beat seeing the newly restored version of Metropolis - the film now being almost complete is a dream come true in itself - in front of the Brandenburg Gate out in the snow during the Berlinale 2010 amidst a lively crowd.)
It is a very good film and it's extremely well made. I loved the directing work on this one and the way they used sound and silence. The dream sequence was already mentioned. While they made a modern film be silent work the film also showed quite impressively why that era is gone and I say that as someone who believes it was the high point of film art. The dream sequence where George suddenly can hear the sounds and noises of the world demonstrated what you can do with sound in a movie - something that we don't appreciate often. It reminded me of the time I first saw "Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse" - Fritz Lang's second non-silent movie. These early sound movies were silent a lot of the time and sounds were used as an artistic means. In that movie there is a scene where the screen goes dark and you only hear a gunshot, for example.
"The Artist" is a modern movie but done in an old technique. They did some things that you wouldn't see in an original silent movie - the self-deprecation and joking on the intertitles (e.g. the blackmailing scene). That actually worked surprisingly well but it's not something I expected. I only know Jean Dujardin from the OSS 117 movies so I see him mostly as a comedian playing silly types. There was a bit of that in his role here, too, but he does have an impressive range and a very emoting face. The acting was superb overall.
I must say I'm not as overwhelmed as I thought I would be but I'd like to see it at least once more (on DVD or so) before passing judgement. I'm certainly interested in learning more about the movie, e.g. in what language the actors talked to each other, what the script looked like and whether that's really how Jean Dujardin's English sounds.
I did - twice, I think. One was a sneak preview which turned out to be the Charlie's Angels remake and after half an hour I decided that it was a waste of my time. And the other was Pulp Fiction. I went with my Mom on recommendation by my elder brother and we decided to leave early. Later, I saw it in its entirety (more than once in fact), though.
They usually do that in the part of Germany where I live. And they did so in this case, too. It was a lively crowd with one idiot who always yelled some thing or another until someone told him to shut up.
Eeeeexactly!
You actually could hear two women go "No!"
That could explain some of it. No, wait, it explains everything. After many Irrungen and Wirrungen, I kind of ended up there. Never would have thought that this stoicism was something reserved for the north, but it does make sense.
I guess this is something I didn't expect at all; ultimately why it could surprise me so pleasently, repeatedly. The film knew full well that we were hyper aware that we are watching a silent movie and it played well with it, starting with the crowd expecting to hear the crowd clap at the beginning of the movie.
Last edited:
Yeah, the East is more raucous.
It might not be confined to the North, people are also a bit more reserved in other parts of the country but here in Berlin people tend to be quite outspoken and lively as a rule. It isn't uncommon that someone you don't know strikes up a conversation withy ou and things like that.Ah, unfortunately, my French is too bad to really understand what's going on (apart from him playing a sort of surfer type?) but it does look very silly.
Yeah, the East is more raucous.
Thanks for the heads-up, I'll make sure to wear my best sour expression. I don't think my heart could stand that shock.
Actually, it sounds quite nice.
Quite the transformation.
I don't care all that much for the Academy Awards, but I still kind of hope that The Artist (and with that the actors) gets the accolades it deserves.
I was especially impressed by the directing and hope for a win there but it can't win in all the important categories, now, can it?
Just found out that one of the theaters in my area is finally showing 'The Artist' 
. Going to see it when I can... and I can't wait.
. Going to see it when I can... and I can't wait.
Just found out that one of the theaters in my area is finally showing 'The Artist'
Niiiiice!!! Funny thing is, I remember thinking "Finally!" when it hit my area....and that was *before* it's current wide release!
You're in for a real treat....enjoy yourself and let us know what you thought.
Just saw this tonight. Utterly brilliant! Really made me smile. The CGI was very good, and the explosions were amazing I really hope this cleans up at the Oscars. It deserves it. Truly special. As I was watching it, it made me wonder how in the world they got it funded as it surely was a gamble. I mean, the director couldn't just go to the studio and say, "I want to make a silent movie." in this day and age.
I really hope this cleans up at the Oscars. It deserves it. Truly special. As I was watching it, it made me wonder how in the world they got it funded as it surely was a gamble. I mean, the director couldn't just go to the studio and say, "I want to make a silent movie." in this day and age.
^I, too, hope it cleans up at the Oscars. It is indeed special and it would be nice to see a silent film, of all things, beat out huge-budget, Michael-Bay-ExPLOSion- type films. It's story and characters that make great films, so I'd like to see people reminded of that.
Well it cleaned up at the BAFTAs, so hopefully that's a sign.
It's a bet made by Thomas Langmann. The French cinema industry is a little different from the American industry. It allows to try silly ideas if you find the right persons. Thomas Langmann was the right person.
There was the equivalent of the Oscars in France yesterday : the Césars.
The artist won 6 Césars including best director, best movie and best actress. But not best actor
NOT BEST ACTOR!?!? How is that POSSIBLE? He's fucking AMAZING in The Artist. I'm going to lose my WIFE to that man she's so in love with him.
He was ROBBED.
There was the equivalent of the Oscars in France yesterday : the Césars.
The artist won 6 Césars including best director, best movie and best actress. But not best actor
NOT BEST ACTOR!?!? How is that POSSIBLE? He's fucking AMAZING in The Artist. I'm going to lose my WIFE to that man she's so in love with him.
He was ROBBED.
You can't say he was robbed, I guess you haven't seen the other movies
The César went to one of the main actor of the 3rd most successful movie of all time in the country (the black man in the trailer I linked) and because he was made for this role, the movie went to very average to pleasant (I'm not a stong fan of the movie myself
). This is the only César the movie won. To be frank, I was sure this would happen. The competition looked more difficult in France than it looks in foreign countries. I was even certain that best movie or best director wouldn't go to The Artist
You can't say he was robbed, I guess you haven't seen the other movies
While that's a fair point... this is the internet! And so, fair points are not allowed.
HE WAS ROBBED!
It should be noted though, that none of those types of films have actually been nominated for the major awards at the Oscars this year. So it's up against a field of mostly low-key films like The Help and Moneyball.
But I do want to see The Artist beat Hugo because it's silent vs. 3-D. I won't rehash my opinion of 3-D that I've stated many times elsewhere. But all I'll say is I'd take it as a symbolic victory, even if just a one-off. The Artist may be a fantastic film, but it's not making $800 million at the box office so I don't expect us to see a flood of silent movies in the next year or so. Though that would be cool.
I do hold The Artist responsible for getting Wings - the first Best Picture winner and a silent film - on Blu-ray a few weeks ago, so hopefully we might see more silents making a resurgence in that way. No one's tried to tackle the classic Chaplin silents for Blu-ray yet (Modern Times doesn't count)*, and there's a stack of Louise Brooks and early Garbo films I'd love to see in HD.
Alex
* Most of the Chaplin shorts you see on DVD are 3rd and 4th generation copies and look like hell even on VHS. But this is Chaplin we're talking about so presumably there are better copies in the archives that can be used. If they could restore Metropolis, I have faith they could restore stuff like The Immigrant and Behind the Screen and The Gold Rush.
Similar threads
