The Artist (France, 2011) *****

The ArtistSimply delightful, The Artist rightfully deserves the highest praises for being an engaging, highly stylized, well-performed film. It intelligently pays tribute to Hollywood’s silent film era, at a time of transition to talkies.
Packing bits of film history into a plot that involves fame, pride, depression, friendship and love, to mention a few of the topics covered, writer/director Michel Hazanavicius moves the story like a dance. Kuddos to the entire cast led by unforgettable Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo. The plot does suffer some slight pacing issue somewhere towards three quarters into the film, but as everything else, including the cinematography, customs, sets and music are so superb, its forgivable. A true jewel and an instant classic.