Benjamin's Stash: Video Pick of the Week

      Readers, it’s time for this week’s video pick. My recommendation this week recently won Best Picture as well as Best Actor, Director, Original Score, and Costume Design at the 2012 Academy Awards. It also utilizes a style of film not commonly seen since decades ago.

      The Artist tells the story of silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin). Valentin is the biggest star of the silver screen set during the silent era of film in the mid to late twenties. While posing for pictures outside a film premiere of his a young woman, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), accidentally bumps into him. Valentin takes no offense and reacts with amusement, even allowing Peppy to be in a few shots. The next day Peppy winds up as front page material with the heading, "Who's That Girl?" Things keep looking up for her when Valentin insists on her having a part in his next film, despite the objections of his studio boss, Al Zimmer (John Goodman). Gradually, Peppy begins to rise within the industry, eventually becoming a star in her own right. Two years later, Zimmer brings in Valentin to show him a new film. The difference is this film has sound. Despite Zimmer telling him that the silent film era is coming to a close and that the "talkies" are the future of film, George is dismissive and views sound in film as only a fad. Refusing to take part in the new and burgeoning film era, Valentin finds it harder and harder to achieve film success, all the while Peppy's now become the big silver screen star that he once was.

      Some of you might be a little turned off at the thought of seeing a silent film. Let me tell you, though, a great film is a great film regardless of style or genre, and The Artist is a great film. Writer/director Michel Hazanavicius earned every bit of the directing Oscar he won with his pitch perfect ode to silent films. Everything from the black and white color, the 1.33:1 screen ratio to the slightly lower frame rate of 22 fps, giving the film a more sped-up look (standard is 24) are all nods to that period of film set during the early 20th century. To be fair, the film isn't entirely silent, but the moments where there are sound - as few as they may be - are great touches of cleverness from Hazanavicius. Both Jean Dujardin and the beautiful Berenice Bejo deliver two terrific performances, and the chemistry between them couldn't be any better. Obviously, since there is no spoken dialogue, their performances are sold through their body language. There is a risk of going over the top or as they say in the film, "mugging for the camera", but both Dujardin and Bejo give just the right amount of body language and strike just the right tone with their Oscar worthy performances (Both were nominated, Dujardin won). There are also some fine supporting work from many other well known performers such as Penelope Ann Miller, James Cromwell, and John Goodman, and I can't forget the Oscar winning score. With any silent film the score is by far essential to its greatness considering the music goes hand in hand with the performances. In a way, it's like the phrase, "Let the music do the talking." Take my word for it, this is a phenomenal film that I hope you enjoy as much as I did. With flawless direction and perfect performances, The Artist is a funny, romantic, and moving tribute to a once great era of film now long past.