Original, Clever And Heart Warming. What "Best Picture" Awards Are All About

Rating: 10/10 (9 September 2012)

usually i think the films that are awarded "best picture" are often overrated. sometimes they can feel too smart even, or they play too much to audience's popular taste. 'The Artist' hits a nice and satisfying medium between the two. it's intelligent and artsy but also fulfilling on a emotional level and it's humorous and entertaining enough to play broadly.
there have been recent movies made in B&W, notably most by Woody Allen, but not really this year and probably not as effectively suited to the subject matter like this. i also can't really think of too many full length, contemporary silents except for maybe Mel Brooks in 'Silent Movie'. like the use of B&W, the silent film is used effectively and appropriately.
i find so few films these days with their large budgets and CGI effects to be all that interesting or exciting as cinema. this film was emotionally satisfying as well as exciting and original as a work of cinema. it was so different from everything else offered this year. it also gave considerable substance to it's gimmick.
this really was a metaphor for what films in general are all about. to cite a famous cinema quote, "that's entertainment".