The Artist Movie review

The Artist breathes fresh life into the dissonance of modern cinema by reliving the cinematic excellence of the golden era. Sound; sometimes is but noise in the scheme of a screenplay that speaks for itself. The Artist showcases the bygone era in a light that is enigmatic & endearing; enchanting & entertaining! Weaved with a dream-like essence, the movie outlives the details, paying a tribute to the silent era with the eloquence of silence.

The Artist movie review

“The Artist” showcases the strength of silent cinema and dispels any doubts of its power. This film may be silent, but it is made emphatic cinematic noise at the Oscars! The film was a critical darling, receiving numerous accolades including five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin’s performance.

If I stay here long enough
I will learn the art of silence.
When I have given up words
I will become what I have to say.
— Desert: Richard Shelton

Transcending the need for dialog, The Artist paints a canvas for itself through impeccable performances by the actors. The film pays homage to silent film stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton through its acting style, cinematography, and musical score.

Dujardin plays George Valentin, a star of the silent movies who is pushed to obscurity with the advent of sound in Hollywood.  With pictures getting a voice, his life, professional and personal, undergoes turmoil. All he has is the affection of a rising star Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) and his faithful dog, Uggie. The movie explores the silent film industry’s transition to “talkies” and the challenges faced by actors during this period.

Uggie, the canine star from the silent movie ‘The Artist’ has hit the right notes when it comes to delivering a power-packed performance that has raged a rally favoring recognition of animal performances in award ceremonies.  Having already won the Golden Collar top dog (the best dog in a theatrical film at the Golden Collar awards), he is raring to woo audiences at the Oscars. The canine star was the focus of a campaign called “Consider Uggie” appealing for him to win an honorary Oscar nomination of his own.

The Artist is a charming comedy that expertly employs its silent film style to tell an emotionally engaging story. Featuring impressive performances and a soundtrack that brings back memories of the golden age of silent cinema, it speaks to a wide audience through a universal language.

Uggie went on to win the Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, the 2012 Golden Collar Award, and received a special mention at the Prix Lumière Awards, the French equivalent of the Golden Globes.

RIP Uggie

PS Uggie has died 🙁 He was aged 13. To think of it, the superstar dog Uggie was rejected by two owners and on his way to the pound before his human Mueller took him in. Along with his starring role in “The Artist,” Uggie appeared in “The Campaign,” “Water for Elephants” and “Mr. Fix It.”

RIP Uggie, for us you’d always remain an Oscar winner!

More canine cinema awaits in our roundup of movies inspired by real-life dogs.

What is The Artist (2011) about?

The Artist is a black-and-white, near-silent film set in late-1920s Hollywood, just as sound is about to kill the silent era. George Valentin, a silent-movie idol played by Jean Dujardin, watches his career collapse exactly as a young actress, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), rises with the talkies. Through all of it, one companion never leaves his side: his dog. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, it became the first largely silent film to win Best Picture in more than 80 years.

Uggie: the Jack Russell Terrier who stole The Artist

The dog at George Valentin’s heels is played by Uggie, a Jack Russell Terrier who, by nearly every critic’s account, stole every scene he was in. He fetches help, plays dead on cue, and delivers both the film’s biggest laughs and its most moving act of loyalty. Uggie won the Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and his fame sparked the only half-joking “Consider Uggie” campaign for an Academy Award. Animals can’t actually win Oscars, but the campaign put the question of recognising animal actors squarely on Hollywood’s table. In June 2012 he became one of the very few dogs honoured with a paw-print ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Uggie retired soon after and died in 2015, aged 13 — but he remains the most decorated dog in modern movie history.

The Artist cast and Oscars

Jean Dujardin won the Academy Award for Best Actor, opposite Bérénice Bejo as Peppy Miller. The Artist swept the 2012 Oscars with five wins in all, including Best Picture and Best Director for Michel Hazanavicius — a remarkable haul for a silent, black-and-white French production.

Where to watch The Artist

The Artist is widely available to rent or stream on the major digital platforms — search Prime Video and Apple TV in your region, where it tends to live. At about 100 minutes and almost entirely without dialogue, it is the rare film that plays just as well with the sound low.

Why dog lovers should watch The Artist

Strip away the Oscars and the nostalgia and The Artist is, at heart, a film about a man and the dog who refuses to give up on him. Uggie’s performance is the warmest argument you will ever see for how a good dog can carry a whole film without a single word — silent cinema’s last and best four-legged star.

The Artist: FAQ

What breed is the dog in The Artist? A Jack Russell Terrier. The dog actor who played George Valentin’s loyal companion was named Uggie.

What was the dog’s name in The Artist? The dog was played by a real canine actor named Uggie, a Jack Russell Terrier who became a star in his own right.

Did the dog in The Artist win an award? Yes — Uggie won the Palm Dog at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and fans ran a “Consider Uggie” campaign for an Oscar nomination.

Where can I watch The Artist? It is available to rent or stream on major platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV, depending on your region.

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