One of the most raved-about movies on this year's Golden Globes slate is The Artist, the (mostly) silent film directed by Michel Hazanavicius that pays homage to the early days of cinema. Hazanavicius, fresh off the success of
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If you haven't seen it yet, The Artist is the story of actor George Valentin, a big name in the silent-film world, and his romance with a young dancer. Set at the end of the silent era, Valentin must come to terms with the fact that the age of the talkie has begun. Even worse, his dancer becomes a big star, leaving him a relic of a forgotten age. It's remarkably touching and an absolute joy to watch.
The film won raves from critics the world over, and was nominated for a solid half-dozen Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture, Musical Or Comedy; Best Actor, Musical Or Comedy; Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score. It has some stiff competition, especially in the Best Director category, but I'd be shocked if the film didn't walk away with most of what it was nominated for.
Although I doubt we're going to see a renaissance in silent moviemaking, The Artist does get us thinking about other Golden Globe-nominated films that would be better off without the audio track. One that would have probably done just as well was Steven Spielberg's War Horse, which was lauded for its expansive visuals far more than its script.
Martin Scorsese's magical Hugo isn't in competition with The Artist, but it shares an affection for the nascent days of cinema. The dialogue was the film's weakest element, so it's fun to imagine how the silent treatment of title cards and on-screen text would work with the fantastical 3-D worlds built by Scorsese and his team.
If you've been bitten by the silent movie bug, take some time to check out some of the classics of the period. The comedic genius of Buster Keaton is best on display in his 1927 classic The General, which features the legendary actor in some of his most memorable scenes. Silent films were the golden age of physical comedy, with complex, challenging set pieces that still impress in the modern day.
For something more emotionally intense, Carl Dreyer's epic The Passion Of Joan Of Arc is one of the most stunning films ever made. Eschewing the stylized world of most films of the era, Dreyer's camera moves close on actress Renee Jeanne Falconetti's face and lets her incredible expressions tell the story. It's a true landmark in film history.
How will The Artist do at the Golden Globes, airing on Sunday, Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC? If you saw it, did you think it lived up to the hype? Break your silence in the comments.
