Review - "Shhhhhhhh... I can't hear the movie!" ("The Artist," "The Comic")

When I first heard about "The Artist" (a French-made, silent B&W movie? Really?) my first thought, I must admit, was "gimmick" - like 3D or "Smell-o-Vision." Boy-howdy, was I ever wrong!

Pulling from an age-old plot device that never gets old (the "Star is Born" plotline,) this nearly-silent movie stars French actor Jean Dujardin as 1927 American silent film box office smash George Valentin (think Douglas Fairbanks.) He accidentally bumps into wannabe actress Peppy Miller (French actress Bérénice Bejo) and before you can say "roll'em," Peppy soon eclipses George at the box office. Soon it's 1929, the stock market crashes, "talkies" are all the rage at the movies, and George is too prideful to move to the new "talking" format. George is forced out by the studio head (John Goodman) and has to fire his best friend and chauffeur (James Cromwell.) Life is bad.

He loses everything while Peppy soars to the top of the charts, all the while pining for George, her true love and mentor who gave her her first start in the 'biz. Will true love win out over George's self-destructive new life? Filmed in glorious black and white and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, this is a gift from the film gods.

A "silent" film (dialogue cards and all) with a weeping piano/violin soundtrack to let you know when to cry, a Jack Russel terrier named Uggie that steals every scene, and a wonderful throwback to a bygone era that, at one time, WAS cinema at its finest. By the way, there IS some sound in this movie...but it catches you so off-guard that you are actually startled by it! How cool it that?

The Comic (1969)

This comic masterpiece has largely gone overlooked, but for my money, it's the finest work ever done by comedian Dick Van Dyke. This tragic-comedy deals with an ego-maniacal, self-centered, self-absorbed ex-circus clown turned silent film star in the 1920's. Billy Bright (Van Dyke) is skilled, funny as hell, but can't see the forest for the trees as he heads down a self-destructive path that to leads his ultimate death...which is where the movie begins...at his funeral. Nice touch.

Along his comic genius road we'll meet his life-long best friend Martin 'Cockeye' VanBuren (Mickey Rooney) and his leading lady, Mary Gibson (Michelle Lee) whom he marries. Akin to Chaplin & Keaton, he is never, ever satisfied with his future in film, pushing his life (and others) to the breaking point as he spirals out-of-control until he is just a washed up has-been living in L.A. Sad, funny, touching, heart-breaking, and poignant, it's a tour-de-force performance by the comic master Van Dyke.

Directed by Carl Reiner, this perfect little gem, sad to say, cannot be found on either Netflix or Blockbluster.com for rental. However, TCM (God bless, TCM!) does show this movie on occasion and it is well worth the look.

*Editor Harry's Note - I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Carmichael-Smythe's opinion of "The Comic." It is Van Dyke's best acting role and Reiner's best directing work. Van Dyke's personal friendship with Stan Laurel in his later years lends a ring of truth to his character.
If you love film, seek this one out...