Michel Hazanavicius' THE ARTIST

Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

Exuberant, charming, and immensely entertaining, THE ARTIST tells the story of a silent movie star in Hollywood whose career topples when talkies come along. Mostly told with accompanying music but no spoken dialog, the viewer is easily swept along by the humor, action, sentiment, and straightforward storytelling.

There are many references to classic films and film music. My favorite: the extended use of VERTIGO in one dramatic sequence. And, as a dog lover, it’s hard to resist the shenanigans Uggie engages in.

But mostly this is just a movie to enjoy. As we were leaving the theater I told my wife, “You know what a great double bill would be? This and THE MUPPETS.” They’re both about Hollywood, they’re both about dreams, and they cleverly mix drama and slapstick.

Plus they both have happy endings. What more could you ask from a Saturday night out?

Movie review copyright (c) 2012 by Dennis D. McDonald. To see more movies I’ve tagged as “one of a kind” go here.