Silence Is Golden

I slept so late, it was 10 before I got up and moving. I was originally going to hit the gym this morning, but I decided it was too late and opted for a run to the Oaklyn Library instead. Their computer systems and printers were down for upgrading...and due to that, they were quiet. There was a lot to do, though. The kids' DVDs (and to a lesser extent, the adults') badly needed to be organized. I shelved some young adult titles and fixed the board books and picture books.

Went for a short walk after leaving the library. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. The sun was shining, the sky was brilliantly blue, and it was warm, but not as bad as it's supposed to be this weekend. Needless to say, the Oaklyn Lions Pool was filled with kids taking one last dip before they close after Labor Day.

When I got in, I had leftovers for lunch and started The Artist. It won this year's Oscar for best picture, and I can fully understand why. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the artist of the title, a wildly popular actor in silent action films. But the year is 1927, and sound is coming to film...and with it comes Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), a perky flapper looking for her big break. Valentin, however, is stuck in a loveless marriage and is unable to pursue her. He's also unable to pursue his career. He insists that talkies are a fad. His boss (John Goodman) says otherwise, and his attempts at one last silent movie is a flop that, along with the Stock Market Crash, sinks him. As Peppy becomes a major comedienne, Valentin sinks further and further. When Valentin nearly dies in a fire, Peppy finally finds a way for Valentin to regain his hold on the public.

Sweet, unique, and utterly captivating. It's not for everyone. Some folks won't appreciate the time-worn plot that feels like a cross between A Star Is Born and Singin' In the Rain, with a cute dog replacing Donald O'Connor as chief sidekick. Others simply won't get the old-time-Hollywood, black-and-white silent format. But if you love Hollywood history, early 20th-century history, or silent and/or early sound film, you'll absolutely adore this. Jean Dujardin in particular is amazing as the leading man who refuses to adjust to changing times and technology.

I got so into the movie, I was late leaving for work! I barely made it on time. Work was pretty quiet. A lot of people may be on vacation before the Labor Day Weekend; others are probably waiting for the beginning of the month. It was so quiet, I spent an hour gathering carts. Needless to say, there were no problems, and I was in and out.