"THE ARTIST" LIVE CHAT RECAP

Jean Dujardin at The Artist Live Chat

Kicking its Oscars Campaign into high gear now, The Weinstein Co. held a Live Chat with the Cast and Director of Best Picture Frontrunner, The Artist tonight.  Questions were fielded in-house from the Audience, Twitter and Facebook and we learned a few interesting things.

I for one, had no idea the Film's Director Michel Hazanavicius, actually is married the the Film's Supporting Actress Bérénice Bejo.  A jet-lagged Bejo, who just flew in from Paris to Los Angeles for the Chat, admits that at first she had some struggles working together with her Husband, but after getting a bit of advice from Friends, she finally was able to relax in taking direction from him.  She also explained that the final dance sequence seen in The Artist actually was quite a challenge since neither her nor her Co-star Jean Dujardin are actually Dancers.  The Sequence which is shot continuously took about 17 takes to get right.

Dujardin with the help of a Translator, explained that he never prior had visited Los Angeles for other than leisure.  He lived in the area for approximately three months and really connected to George Valentin as an Outsider in the 35 days of filming.  He also was flattered by all the comparisons to Gene Kelly he is receiving.

One thing which many people forget about this Film is that the Actors did work with Dialogue and were really speaking during Filming.  Actor James Cromwell however, clarifies simply that the sound is not recorded and captured in depicting this as a Silent Film.

Michel Hazanavicius sums-up the messsage of The Artist nicely stating, "We live in a world that changes very, very fast and it is our job to adapt. I think this is what makes the Film really Human". 

Following the Chat, the Cast and Director went into the Audience, signing Autographs and taking Photos with lucky Fans in-attendance!  Jealous!

See some Photos from the Chat below:

THE ARTIST - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Artist

Few Films touched me as deeply as Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist in 2011 and to be honest it may have helped that I had few expectations walking into it. All I knew about it prior was that it is about Silent Film Star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and how the end of that Era halted his flourishing Career abruptly.  Staying true to the Era it pays homage to, the Film only is stylized as a Silent Film and shot in a unique Aspect Ratio of 1.37 :1.

With changing paradigms in Film coming with the introduction of Dialogue-based Films known as the Talkies, we see a young Woman named Peppy Miller's (Bérénice Bejo) stock rise as a bona fide Movie Star.  Although it is the changing tastes of Moviegoers and Studio Executives which lead to Valentin's professional demise, it also is his stubborn Pride which he falls victim to ultimately, refusing to accept help including that of his biggest Admirer, Peppy.

Jean Dujardin's brilliant performance as Valentin is the stuff of Oscars and remarkably he does it saying only two words the entire Film.  He stretches himself to the limit emotionally completely with just physical gestures and facial emoting. Argentinian/French Talent Bejo is a true revelation here as the beautiful and effervescent Peppy and one cannot help but fall in love with her Character's genuine pure spirit.  And how about that adorable little Jack Russell named Uggie as Valentin's Sidekick incessantly tugging at our heartstrings?

Alliance Films' The Artist is now in theatres and don't be shocked if it were to take it all  - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress and of course Best Actor - at the 84th Academy Awards.  Isn't it about time you saw something truly uplifting? 

"THE ARTIST" SWEEPS AWARDS IN NEW YORK, BOSTON AND LOS ANGELES

Still from The Artist

In case there was any doubt about it, The Artist is now one of your early favourites to take it all at the Oscars.  The French Production about Actor George Valentin at the end of the Silent Film Era, stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.

Earlier today The Film swept the New York Film Critics Online, Boston and Los Angeles Film Critics Associations' Best Picture Awards. It also doesn't hurt that The Weinstein Co., which won the Academy Award for Best Picture with The King's Speech also is responsible for campaigning The Artist.

The American Film Institute also announced its Top Ten of 2011 but as The Artist is not a U.S.-produced Title, it is deemed ineligible. Also, both Dujardin and Bejo failed to win at any of the three Awards ceremonies today.

The Artist is now in theatres in Canada via Alliance Films.

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)