The Best Motion Picture of the 21st Century could well be a silent film!

Rating: 10/10 (27 February 2012)

This is the first silent film I've ever watched. The last of the non- talkies were in existence way back in the 1930s and for "The Artist" to revitalize this so-called 'dead' genre is simply a marvellous achievement. I wouldn't be overstating it when I say it is possibly the best work in film-making in the 21st century.
For starters, the brisk pace and sheer entertainment factor of this movie catches you off guard as it is something not usually expected of a silent film. The acting by both Jean Dujardin (what a well-deserved Oscar win his was) and Berenice Bejo (would have loved to see her win too; on reflection though, the competition this year made that virtually impossible in either category) is tremendous. The complex task of expressing emotions without the aid of verbal activity is a feat accomplished with nonchalant ease by the duo. The original score (don't bother with the baseless controversies regarding an alleged rip-off from the score of "Vertigo") by Ludovic Bource is as good as it gets, and landed him and the film another well-deserved Oscar nod. And finally, the screen writing and direction by Michel Hazanavicius is first-class; overall a stupendous work of art befitting the title of the film.
Don't be put off by the superficial 'lack of punch' generally associated with silent films. Watch this and your respect for the classic silver screen cinema might just increase manifold.