about "the artist": this movie plot is very similar to a very old movie, with Judy Garland, and a very famous actor, and it's called "a Star is born." It was a talky, but the plot is so similar you realize the writer was very influenced by it. Another thing you notice about the artist, is that so much of the movie, and its emotional effects, and even the plot, are very dependent on the music. The music in this movie, is fantastic, and without it it would not be the same or be successful. Sure, it is a silent movie, but I have always said that a movie can rise or fall, depending on its accompanying score, and how it helps the movie or hinders it. In this case, it is absolutely dependent on the score.it is quite a brilliant score Just in itself on how it carries the film,sweeps the emotion and plot along; towards the end, I am absolutely certain I heard very familiar strains from Alfred Hitchcock's "vertigo", which implied soon-to-be tragedy. If it was not the exact music for vertigo, then it has been very carefully copied, and slightly altered to avoid copyright infringement.that is a huge compliment to Alfred Hitchcock, because he and his composers knew what they were doing. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** some of you may be wondering, why two of the biggest movies up for Oscars, were both very concerned, with the beginning of motion pictures, both "Hugo" and "the artist", and explored and celebrated those beginning of the motion picture industry. There is probably a good reason for this. Most of you realize that Hollywood and American cinema, is coming to a very bad end. Except for a few really great artists, most Hollywood movies have disintegrated to cartoon characters, superheroes, special effects, 3-D, and remaking old movies over. In other words, the great American Hollywood cinema is deteriorating towards an undignified end. When a great civilization of art comes to a halt, very often there is a tendency to celebrate and remember it's very beautiful beginning. I believe that is what is happening with "Hugo" and "the artist". We are celebrating in these two movies, the great beginning of American and Hollywood cinema, because we realize it is dragging to a complete halt.many other countries are making superior movies now, even the Scandinavian countries, Japan, China, and many others including France. ************************************************************************************************************************************************ the only fault I found with "the artist," was the death of (censored), for which I cannot forgive the writer and the director. (censored) was such an integral part of the movie, and so important to the emotional vitality, that I was simply stunned and shocked at the pitiless manner of execution. I cannot forgive the writer and the director for this. Okay, so I am oversensitive about the subject. But I'm not going to forgive them for it. It was an unnecessary and brutal dramatic idiocy, done for cheap effect. Otherwise, I would have given this movie an A+ or at least in A. As it is, I'm going to give it a B+ or B.still,it is a very excellent movie and very entertaining. Obviously, this director or writer loved Charlie Chaplin, old silent films,& old black and white films. He must have read my mind! :)----Dogerill