Let’s face it: movies have been pretty underwhelming this year.  There has been an explosion of comic book movies adapted from nearly every angle – from dark and gritty, to lighthearted action.  There have been silly dramas, requisite attempts at an Oscar grab, and a couple of underwhelming features from the giants of filmmaking (“War Horse” and “Hugo” while good, were far from as great as they could have been).

Enter “The Artist.”  It’s the film people are talking about with overwhelming praise, as well as a few angry detractors (which I suspect will only grow as the film gains more and more momentum).  My expectations were high going in after seeing the trailer, which floored me in communicating its emotion and charm.  Added to that is the amount of critical praise the film has received so far, making me excited for what appeared to be a breath of fresh air in the theater.  For the most part, “The Artists” delivers.