The Artist

[cinemagoer]

Add Jason Statham and Asthton Kutcher (what a dreadful name) stick in a few CGI's and the young popcorn munchers/Coke slurpers and mobile phone users would go and see it.

Ian (MUSICANDMOVIES@AOL.COM)

[Windyridge]

Add Jason Statham and Asthton Kutcher (what a dreadful name) stick in a few CGI's and the young popcorn munchers/Coke slurpers and mobile phone users would go and see it.

Ian (MUSICANDMOVIES@AOL.COM)

I think you're being a bit harsh there. I've never been in a cinema when a young person has used a mobile phone and the worst popcorn/picnmix munchers and talkers have been older people 'WHAT DID HE SAY...?" But of course there's no need for that while seeing The Artist.

[Steve Crook]

Three lines of dialogue and a couple of sound effects does not a talkie make in my book. It's like calling Spellbound a technicolour extravanganza because there's a nano-second of red

How many words did Al Jolson speak in The Jazz Singer? That is usually regarded as being the first talkie

Steve

[orpheum2]

Around 200 words.It wasnt the first talkie D>W Griffiths Dream Street had a spoken introduction.Anyway you could always say that The Artist is the first part talkie ever to win the oscar.

[batman]

'OSS 117' fully deserved his Oscar .... as did the film itself.

[McCarroll]

Read my review below on if The Artist lived up to its hype! :)

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Thanks

[Merton Park]

To Windyridge

I have been in the Cinema several times, mainly in the US when people's mobiles have gone off, not just the young and a normal conversation begins and the rest of the audience have gone mad! Swift end to conversation!!

People just don't have thoughts for others, extremely selfish. Sorry to sound like an old codger, but it is a real problem nowadays.

[John Llewellyn Moxey]

I thought it was a wonderful Film!!

[theuofc]

'OSS 117' fully deserved his Oscar .... as did the film itself.

I thought it was a wonderful Film!!

Hear, hear! I was over the moon that Jean Dujardin won, ditto director, ditto film. And how about Uggie in his black tux tie.

Barbara

[Blanche Fury]

I've not seen this yet, nor have I read through every comment above, so I'm supremely unqualified to contribute. But I will anyway. I happened to see the trailer this morning. I know there's been some controversy about the use of the music from 'Vertigo', but I was surprised to hear 'Sing, Sing, Sing' being prominently featured, presumably to create period atmosphere. The film is set in the 20s, but this swing tune was written in 1936, is associated with a totally different era and is completely the wrong sort of jazz for the 20s; there's plenty of great music from then they could have used. I can't have been the only person who noticed. Or am I just being an irritating pedant?

[Windyridge]

I know there's been some controversy about the use of the music from 'Vertigo', but I was surprised to hear 'Sing, Sing, Sing' being prominently featured, presumably to create period atmosphere. The film is set in the 20s, but this swing tune was written in 1936, is associated with a totally different era and is completely the wrong sort of jazz for the 20s; there's plenty of great music from then they could have used. I can't have been the only person who noticed. Or am I just being an irritating pedant?

No, you're being a knowledgeable music lover, educating ignoramuses like me.

[Blanche Fury]

No, you're being a knowledgeable music lover, educating ignoramuses like me.

Thank you, Windyridge.

Actually, thinking about it, it's not the anachronism that annoys me. The film is after all an entertainment, not a history lesson. What irritates me though is the laziness of the musical choice - 'Sing, Sing, Sing' has become such a cliche. It's a great piece of music, but it's been used so many times that it's been drained of all pleasure. Couldn't the film makers have found something a little less well known (or even commissioned a new score)? (But as I say, I've not seen the film, so maybe this piece of music features only in the trailer.)

[CaptainWaggett]

I don't know anything about the music of the period so didn't know the song was out of place but it's worth pointing out that most of the film does take place im the thirties though probably not as late as 1936.

[Blanche Fury]

I'm in serious danger of drowning in my own pedantry here, but 'Sing, Sing, Sing' (perhaps paradoxically given its title) isn't a song but a piece of instrumental music. It's arguably the second most famous piece of swing music (after 'In the Mood'), and although first recorded in '36 had a long life, being frequently performed and recorded, and is forever associated with the Swing Era (c.'35-'45).

One of the most famous versions of it is by Benny Goodman, who first recorded it in '37:

[CaptainWaggett]

Though your point about the date does still stand since the one song that is used is Pennies From Heaven, also from 1936.