The Artist ****

"The Artist"very cleverly introduces the idea of a silent movie as a popular performance in the very beginning, as we see the '20's star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) at the premiere of his latest triumph, accompanied by a live orchestra and showing to an enthusiastic black-tie audience in an opulent movie palace. Wordlessly, he takes a bow, makes the audience laugh, brings out his dog for a bow, and finally his impatient co-star. Before you know it, the story takes off, and there's still no dialogue, just this very appealing actor and the star-struck girl he meets by chance, with an expressive and beautiful score emphasizing the action and adding to the emotional impact.

Director/writer/editor Michel Hazanavicius has mastered the conventions of the silent era to tell this comic story of an actor's struggles in the transition to talkies. Thoroughly enjoyable, this nearly wordless film delights, involves, and entertains. This silent movie is so good, in fact, that by the time the talkies arrive in the story you can understand why Valentin, the artist, does not feel the need to make the change. Berenice Bejo, as chorus girl turned star Peppy Miller, is equally talented and likable, and the magic she and Dujardin create on screen is glorious. See it and have fun!