If you see one film this year, let it be this one

Rating: 8/10 (26 February 2012)

This film is wonderful. This film is perfect. This film is a delight. Everyone should see it. It's a feel-good movie, a love story, a comedy and an interesting historical film about a crucial period in the movie business.
As an homage to the silent movies of the twenties, it's extremely well done. In every small detail, it's as if you're watching one of those wonderful silent movies. But it's more than just a pastiche. In many ways, this is a movie of the 21st century. Some extremely witty gags can only have been made up in modern times (pun intended). And there are quite a few of those witty gags.
One is right in the beginning of the movie and it made the audience chuckle for the first time. The Artist begins with a movie being shown in a theatre. It's a silent movie, so we only hear music. When the movie stops and the audience starts applauding, you sort of subconsciously expect to hear clapping. When there is no sound and you realize that not only the film-in-the-film is silent, but the film itself as well, you can't help but laugh.
The film is full of such visual and auditive jokes, as well as subtle references to the main theme: speaking versus silence. You can spend an entire evening telling each other which funny parts you liked best.
When The Artist came out, I thought of it as an art-house release for an extremely limited audience. French. Black and white. No speaking parts. A funny sort of film for movie buffs. Being a movie buff, I wanted to see it. But it left the cinemas before I had the chance to. Because of the Oscar buzz, it's re-released now on a small basis. I saw it in a packed theatre. The Artist's evolution from extremely art-house-orientated film to a multiple award winning crowd pleaser is one of the most extraordinary events of recent years in film business.
It's entirely deserved and we all should be pleased that this kind of film can be appreciated by a large audience. I can only hope that The Artist will lead to a renewed interest in the wonderful silent movies of the twenties. Go see it. And after that, watch City Lights. It's on YouTube!