The Artist at the Oscars

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It is the Oscars in just under a day, incredibly exciting in terms of both fashion and film, and it looks like Michel Hazanavicius's 'The Artist' is going to sweep the board. I posted about this film here all the way back in October 2011, and I am so happy that it has got the recognition it deserves. In light of the (inevitable) success of this black-and-white, silent ode to cinema, here are a few more silver-screen icons to inspire your dramatic side.

Greta Garbo

Louise Brooks

Mary Pickford

Rudolph Valentino

Buster Keaton

Lillian Gish

Anna May Wong

photos courtesy of guardian

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The Artist

At the gala screening of 'The Artist' last week, truly the best film I have seen so far at the London Film Festival. Dujardin utterly deserved his prize at Cannes, and should definitely be nominated for an Oscar. It's strange that a predominantly silent film has such an emotional pull, but I laughed, cried and spontaneously clapped during the screening (along with the whole of the rest of the audience). The film riffs on the plots of both Sunset Boulevard and A Star Is Born, and uses original twenties settings and staging to provide an extremely modern tale. The cinematography is beautiful, and the classic soft-focus closeups are captured exactly as they were 80 years ago, though perhaps a little less blurringly romantic (to go with the 21st century story of the trappings of fame, depression, pride and its fall).

It's an unlikely choice to pick to see at the cinema, I guess, but I give it a million starred review, and urge you all to put all your prejudices about 'black and white' and 'silent' to one side, and give it a go. Fork out eight quid (cinemas are so expensive these days!), it'll be the best eight quid you've ever spent- promise! 

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