a wonderful throwback to a unique era in cinema

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2018)

Out with the old...in with the new...make way for the young...in the late 1920s silent film era this is slowly becoming the philosophy in Hollywood, much to the chagrin of narcissistic silent film star George Valentin, who refuses to accept the changing times and discourages the "talkies" emergence in cinema, but a chance encounter with a fetching young woman completely alters the course of his personal life and once thriving movie career. Without the use of audible dialogue the actors are forced to convey their performances through subtle gestures, facial expressions, and body language, a feat which they accomplish with flying colors; this can be viewed as both a crowd-pleasing tribute to the magic of a defunct era in filmmaking, as well as a study of two immensely talented individuals and how they deal with the differing trajectories of their respective careers. Charming, funny, and riveting with a fantastic score, and a standout "performance" by Dujardin's endearing canine companion. ***