The Artist (Oscar Award Winner)

[samurainoir]

Finally saw this on the weekend.

Given how "highbrow" they had made this out to be, I was really pleasantly surprised that Jean Dujardin's character was actually more of a swashbuckling action hero... like Douglas Fairbanks.

Some great sequences where he played Zorro (as the obvious homage to Fairbanks in Mark of Zorro).

[Goblin19]

I think I read that they used the real Mark of Zorro in the movie, only changing the close ups. I really loved this movie. Jean Dujardin truly looks like an old matinee idol.

[Figuremod73]

I want to see this film. Making a movie like this takes a lot of guts these days.
Does it get boring during any of the film?

[samurainoir]

I think I read that they used the real Mark of Zorro in the movie, only changing the close ups. I really loved this movie. Jean Dujardin truly looks like an old matinee idol.

If that is the case, then perhaps some of the other sequences were taken from old movies as well... there was a Jungle Jim type of movie, as well as something swashbuckling muskateers-ish.

I did not find it lagged at all, once you got over the initial hump of the fact that it's a silent film. Both leads are incredibly engaging. The one bit of frustration I had about the story was explained wonderfully by the end.

[megoscott]

I want to see this film. Making a movie like this takes a lot of guts these days.
Does it get boring during any of the film?

I think people are justifiably impressed with this movie, it has a lot of charm and magic. But I was also ready for it to end and think it's vastly over rated.

[Brazoo]

I haven't seen it yet, but I'll probably check it out soon. I have no problem with silent movies, there's a lot of silent movies that I love, but I have a feeling that the pacing and editing is going to be more modern than actual silent era movies. If it was authentic I don't think it would be as popular.

I know they used scores from other movies - there was a minor controversy about the use of a section of Bernard Hermann's score from "Vertigo" because Kim Novak was upset - but I didn't know they "sampled" other movies too. Using music from "Vertigo" seems weird to me, because it's clearly not from that era - unless the movie follows him all the way to the late 50s? On second though, don't tell me!

[Brazoo]

I think people are justifiably impressed with this movie, it has a lot of charm and magic. But I was also ready for it to end and think it's vastly over rated.

I saw the trailer after it blew up at Cannes, and it looked kinda hokey to me. Like an obvious attempt to make a movie that people would consider classy by creating a mash-up Cliff Notes version of the silent era.

I've heard nothing but good reviews though - even from people who think it's overrated, so I am looking forward to seeing it - I'm just really surprised that people think it's good, from what I've seen.

[Goblin19]

The camera movement is definitely more modern.

[MegoSteve]

If you aren't familiar with Jean Dujardin, make sure to check the OSS 117 movies out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF8g6...feature=relmfu

[Hector]

Hugo should've won Best Picture.

[MegoMark71]

This is on the wife's list so that of course means it is on mine as well.

[Gorn Captain]

It's a fun film, and you should definitely go see it.
Is it the best film of the year? Probably not. It's just a feel-good movie, and you don't miss the sound at all. All the actors are great, the leading man is a great Erroll Flynn/Douglas Fairbanks type of man, and the dog is fantastic.

I'd just like to kick the director for saying in an interview that the dog wasn't all that talented. But maybe he said that because the dog won a special Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film festival, and he didn't...

Btw, the music got an Oscar and was played by a Belgian orchestra and recorded in my home town of Ghent!

[z3zep]

I liked the dog the best! cute movie a bit over-rated. would I watch it again ? probably not.

[samurainoir]

It's always the problem with Oscar hype for films, I went reluctantly to see Hugo when it was msmarketed, and ended up loving it because it was so surprising. I can't imagine going to see it with after the nomination and everyone talking it up so much.

The French James Bond spoof is fun... Oddly enough, the first thing I said after he won the Oscar was that Hollywood would offer him a villain role because of his accent and lack of englush, most likely a Bond villain.