The Artist (2011) is a French film directed by Michel Hazanavicius. The movie is set in Hollywood in the late 1920s and early 1930s and revolves around the rise in popularity of the talkies and the decline in silent cinema. The story follows a male film star (Jean Dujardin), who was popular on the silent screen, and a rising actress (Bérénice Bejo) whose career is starting to take off thanks to the talkies.

Ludovic Bource has attempted to capture the essence of Hollywood in the late '20s / early '30s and the result is rather impressive. Part dance hall jazz, part large studio orchestra, this soundtrack emits class and beauty from every track.

There are also very subtle musical references to other classical artists - most notably Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet is echoed in 'Estancia OP. 8'.

You certainly get value for money. This album lasts for over 1 hr, 17 minutes and consists of 24 tracks.

Bource has done a wonderful job of capturing the flavour of the era that this movie is set in. However the music is something of an acquired taste - if you don't like this music from this period of Hollywood cinema then it goes without saying that you'll probably find this a bit too flamboyant and over the top. But if, like me, you like that old Hollywood sound, then you'll love this album.

9

Darren Rea