Wonderful feel good movie!

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2012)

This movie is a gem. Bravo to the French, their movie industry is alive and kicking, and French people actually go and watch French films, not only US blockbusters with lots of CGI and special effects. I'm not French, but I like the guts of men like the producer and director of "The Artist" to embark on the adventure of making a silent b&w movie in these 3D times... Of course, with a lead actor as versatile as Jean Dujardin, they couldn't go wrong. That guy began as a stand-up comedian, went on to star in a very successful sitcom, then created a hilariously funny character called "Brice de Nice", a parody of a wannabe "surfer" beachboy with bleached hair (no way you can surf in the calm bay of Nice...). Director Hasanavicius, co-star Berenice Bejo and Dujardin then teamed up for the first time in two funny and anarchic spy spoofs, "OSS 117". And now this global success for the Artist - I'm sure neither director, producer nor stars would ever have dreamt to scoop up ALL the great movie awards. But they did, and rightly so. And in the midst of all this hype, they remain nice and modest. I was amazed (and happy) that the Academy in Hollywood recognized the quality of this film - just such a pity that on the message board, there's so much anti-French venom. Chacun à son gout, but one should leave politics (and nationalism) alone and just lean back and enjoy a charming peace of good entertainment.