The 2011 film “The Artist” is one of my all-time favorite movies.  Initially, I was interested because I was thinking of the parallels between the main male character and the silent movie career of the similar strikingly handsome and mustachioed John Gilbert.  

When I saw it in the theater it just carried me away, back in time, into a love story and a Hollywood time capsule that I found simply captivating. 

Jean Dujardin is so handsome and his chemistry with the charming and delightful Berenice Bejo was just touching and real.  The demise of his career, his relationship with his dog and longtime valet/friend – much of the film silent – was enthralling to me.  Dujardin truly epitomizes the charisma and magic that silent screen stars such as John Gilbert and Douglas Fairbanks, who held a hypnotic sway over audiences. 

I was rooting so hard for him to win Best Actor and I was the only one who voted for him at our home-based Oscar party.  Watching him go up on the stage to receive that award as a long-shot dark-horse was so satisfying.  Seeing his acceptance speech with his French accent and knowing this man won the Oscar for really ACTING; he didn’t HAVE to talk. 

I love the film, I love the story, I love the soundtrack (Oscar winner for Best Original Score) and I love the grin and magic of Dujardin. 

The chemistry between Peppy and George is so great and typified by this cut:

No great movie is complete without amazing supporting roles.  Missy Pyle really took the smaller role of Constance and made it stand out.  She’s ALWAYS so good in everything the does.  Shout out for reliability!

And the same goes for James Cromwell.  His caliber of performance as reliable valet, friend and savior for Jean Dujardin’s character was also Oscar-nomination worthy, if you ask me. I’ll talk more about him later, because he’s added to so much to the world of Cinema.  His turn as farmer Arthur in “Babe DID get an Academy Award nomination and whoever doesn’t love that film, doesn’t have a heart! 

“That’ll do, pig …”