Well, hello there, kind folks. If you’re visiting this blog of mine, I presume that you have a certain interest in the cinema. As for me, even since my early childhood, I have had a deep love of everything related to movies and television. As far as I can remember, I have been more at ease in front of a screen than in the yard, outside, playing. It is a great way to travel, though other people’s stories, without having to foot any kind of steep bill. Over the years, I feel that movie-watching has even fuelled my own creativity.

All that being said, I welcome you in my Cinephile’s Nest. I hope you enjoy it here, feel free to come back at any time. Here you will find reviews of current movies and older ones. TV shows also. Some classics that have remained some of my favourites, some that have disappointed me. I will use a very basic star (*) system to grade them from 1 to 5 (5 being sliced bread level). Remember, these are just my tastes. I will try to explain in each review what I liked about these particular movies, without giving spoilers.

Il y aura aussi des critiques en français pour les films francophones, car j'aime également le cinéma dans ma langue maternelle. Avant d'apprendre l'anglais, plus jeune, je louais des tonnes de films traduits en français, surtout ceux de Bud Spencer et Terrence Hill. Ma mère a eu le choc de sa vie lorsqu'un jour, dans la boîte d'un de ces films, Deep Throat avait malencontreusement inséré. Une expérience formatrice pour le jeune cinéphile que je suis.

Bienvenue à tous, amusez-vous bien.

I welcome you all here, enjoy yourself.

Monday, March 9, 2015

The Artist (2011)

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Béjo, John Goodman
Running time: 100 minutes



The crossover from silent movies to what Hollywood referred to then as “talkies” was not a smooth one for everyone involved. Some actors and actresses had the looks but not the voice. Others were simply not willing to evolve with the times.

That part of history is at the base of this 2011 film that star French and American actors and actresses. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is big star in silent movies, but, as the new era of talking movies is being ushered in, his career goes on a downward spiral. Peppy Miller (Bérénice Béjo), a young starlet, is the new sensation in Hollywood. Her star is on the rise and she becomes a big celebrity with the talking movies. The Artist has those two meeting while they’re going in opposite directions.

A silent black and white film about silent films could have been a tough sell in this day and age of fast-paced action and short attention spans, but The Artist was so beautifully directed and the actors were so great that the response from the public and critics was awesome. This film is a great piece of artistry and the actors involved all do a wonderful job with it. Jean Dujardin has that kind of face that does not even need to utter a word to charm the people. And his silver screen chemistry with Béjo is undeniable. No wonder so many awards were won, both in the States and in Europe. This is a movie to see.


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