New Year's Resolutions for the Weak-Willed

6 Reasons Why "The Artist" Is Possibly The Greatest Movie Ever

By Contributor

January 4, 2012

geetargrl59 wants you to see a SILENT film. As in, a film with no talking. Yeah, we're not quite sold on this idea yet either.—Sparkitors

Unless you live in an area where artsy-fartsy movies are played in your local cinema instead of overrated blockbuster action movies, then you've probably never heard of The Artist. The movie is about the transformation from silent movies to talkies; it also shows the relationship between two actors—the fall of an old silent actor and the rise of a new talking actress. Despite the rave reviews it's been getting, most people aren't too excited about sitting through a 100-minute silent black-and-white film. Yes, this film was made in 2011, and yes, it is playing in regular theaters, not just the weird ones that sell coffee and apples in place of soda and popcorn.

Despite its lack if color and sound, this movie is phenomenal! I have recommended it to all my friends (they're regular high school students, just like you) and so far I have heard nothing but praise for this masterpiece. But if you, dear reader, are still not convinced, let me give you 6 reasons why The Artist may probably be the greatest movie ever.

1. The acting is SUPERB! If you have an idea of what silent movies are like, you know that sometimes in between scenes, the dialogue is written on a plain background. Of course, this can't happen after every single time a character moves his/her lips. There are long periods of time where the plot has to be recognizable without the audience knowing what the characters are saying. In this film, there isn't a moment where you're confused on what's going on. The characters are believable, widely ranged, and convey the story perfectly. There isn't a weak link in there.

2. The main character has a dog sidekick! This dog is literally the cutest dog ever; it does funny trick, loves its owner, and steals the show. Plus, the dog's name is Uggie. What could possibly be cuter than that? The dog isn't just there for show either; he too acts fantastically and contributes to the plot. You can be sure to "awwwww" anytime he walks on screen.

3. The movie is filled with different moods and genres. This movie covers everything from comedy to romance to drama to suspenseful thriller. The timing for each mood is just right, too! There's sometimes a little humor in a tragic scene, and sometimes a joke is funny but sad at the same time. The movie, in my opinion, is mainly a comedy, but there are a handful of tearjerker moments thrown in.

4. There isn't a single boring moment. You'd think a movie with no sound, no color, and no explosions would be dull, but the whole movie goes along so smoothly, you lose yourself in enjoyment. Not once did I feel the urge to check my phone! Even my ADHD friend got lost in the film and loved it so much that he was able to sit still for all 100 minutes! You will be thoroughly entertained throughout.

5. It's deep. Most movies that top the box offices are good for their special effects. Their meanings, however, are about as deep as a kiddie pool. The Artist, though easy to understand, is full of symbolism and hidden meanings that any lit-lover would appreciate. It's the kind of movie that makes you think, but doesn't hurt your brain. It isn't the odd, pretentious sort of "artsy" that's full of complicated, unnecessary symbolism. Every scene, every character, and every line is meaningful gold.

6. It's the kind of movie that you want to watch again and again. If I could give any advice to anyone before they go see it, it would be to watch it twice. The first time you watch it, enjoy it. Don't think too much about, just witness the story unfold. Then, watch it again, and find the symbolism that you missed the first time. You should also bring your friends, even if you don't think they won't like it (trust me, they will). No matter how many times you watch it, the story never gets old. Although the movie was filmed in 2011, it truly is a timeless classic.

Make it your New Year's resolution to watch The Artist!

But...IT'S SILENT! We are probably just cultural philistines, but we're still not quite convinced that a movie without any TALKING could hold our attention. Has anyone else seen it? What did you think?