If you see no other movie in the coming year, then take in “The Artist.” It’s still playing at Tampa Theatre, which only adds to the experience. Where an appreciative crowd will applaud, as this one did, at the end of a superb movie.
It’s been noted that “The Artist” is an ode to silent films. It is, but that’s almost too academic an accolade. Sure, the conventions of silent filmmaking are on display, nostalgically so, and we hearken back to another era–the late 1920s. But subtitles are at a minimum, which puts a premium on audience participation. It’s obvious that dialogue would often be redundant.
If you are choosey about what movies are worth your time before they’re rentable, choose this one. You’ll be cinematically transported, and you’ll love the trip.