The Artist

Don't be all scared and judgmental because it is a French, silent movie in black and white. It's about more than the gimmick, and The Artist will be calling to you, entrancing you and making you feel the love.

Set in 1927, Jean Dujardin stars as George Valentin - the biggest movie star in the whole world. He's riding high in the time of the silent pictures, but those times are coming to an end. The head of the studio, Al Zimmer (John Goodman), is ready to embrace the talkies, and he wants to bring in a new stable of stars.

Of course, George is too proud and stubborn to embrace the future, so he leaves the studio determined to continue his silent stardom. Along the way, he meets Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) - a young lady looking to become a Hollywood star. As her fortunes rise and she becomes the biggest star of the talkies, George's fall, but the attraction between them only seems to grow, especially as Peppy tries to help.

Will George regain his stardom?

Will George and Peppy find true love?

Will George just talk?

The Artist is the best movie of the year because of the great artistry and skill needed to recreate a silent movie, but, also, because it has a story and acting that excites your emotions. And, we can never forget, it features the greatest performance by a dog in a movie in 2011.

Director Michel Hazanavicius and his team painstakingly adhere to the silent movie formulas and characteristics in ways that cinephiles will be reveling, and younger or less experienced movie fans will find entertaining. Hazanavicius, through the title cards displaying the dialogue, tosses in many little jokes, turns of phrase and double meanings that give the audience a giggle. Then, he continues to give us visual gags and other sights on the screen to convey an idea or advance the story. I makes The Artist a clever movie.

Of course, Dujardin and Bejo show you The Artist is a great movie, whether it be silent or not. Bejo is the girl all guys hope to fall in love with as she bats her eyelashes, sings, dances and engages in one of the most brilliant pantomime scenes since the golden days of Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin. While in George's dressing room, Peppy plays around, pretending to have a romantic, flirty encounter with the man of her dreams, but Bejo is so cute and free, it's the guys in the crowd who will be falling.

Then, Dujardin makes George come to life with such complex troubles and emotions. Sure, a silent movie, especially The Artist, needs to be broad to express the story to the audience, but Dujardin also brings in some more subtle moments and steadily shows the dissatisfaction, disappointment and growing depression in George to make the fall of the movie idol so poignant.

Finally, you can't mention The Artist without mention Uggie the dog, who plays George's loyal companion on and off screen. Uggie is so much fun to watch, I swear I almost nominated him for Best Actor at the Broadcast Film Critics Association's Critic's Choice Awards (by the way, you can see the show on VH1 on January 12). Dog lovers will be wanting to take him home, and dog haters will be reconsidering their stance as Uggie charms his way into your heart. With plenty of hilarious tricks, undying loyalty to his human companion and bravery in the face of massive danger, Uggie is awesome.

The Artist is the movie I implore you to try even if it seems to be the complete antithesis of what you like in movies. You might like it.

The Artist is rated PG-13 for a disturbing image and a crude gesture.