Silence is golden in 'The Artist'

It's Christmas weekend, and you're looking at moviegoing options galore: Cruise, Damon, Spielberg (twice!) and many others. With all this excitement, do you really want to see "The Artist," a movie that's French, black-and-white and silent?

You definitely do. It isn't arty or intellectual, though it is artful and ingenious, and it's the rare crowd-pleaser that never feels obvious or pandering. Film snobs will appreciate the glorious revival of a lost art form, but if you're simply looking for a charming, romantic, endlessly entertaining movie, this is your winning ticket.

The self-reflexive narrative (I did say it was French) follows silent-film star George Valentin, marvelously played by Jean Dujardin as a hammy charmer who's equal parts Douglas Fairbanks, Gene Kelly and William Powell. In the opening scene, Valentin hogs the limelight at a premiere, sidelining his unhappy actress-wife (Penelope Ann Miller) in favor of his other co-star, an Asta-esque terrier (Uggie, with understudies).

But the limelight shifts when Hollywoodland discovers sound. "If that's the future, you can have it," Valentin says -- via title card, of course -- to studio mogul Al Zimmer (John Goodman). Zimmer turns instead to young chatterbox Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo, utterly beguiling), whose star rises as Valentin spirals into alcoholism. His faithful manservant (James Cromwell) sticks by him, as does the dog, but Peppy secretly remains Valentin's biggest fan.

Awards fever for 'The Artist'

When the Academy Awards nominations are announced next month, "The Artist" seems a lock to nab multiple nods. The movie has amassed quite a collection of awards nominations and wins already:

Critics Choice Awards (announced Jan. 12) -- Best acting ensemble

New York Film Critics -- Best film, best director (Michel Hazanavicius)