Now and again you see some magic; such is the case here.   Seen on the smallest screens and in unfashionable black and white, this silent movie – yes, I did say silent, is a wow. 

It tells the story of a huge, silent movie star, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) who faces the coming of sound with disdain.  So much so, that he has made his own self-directed film silent.  Of course, it flops, whereas a young lady he has helped along the way, triumphs in the new media.

She, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), offers George help which he refuses, so she goes up and he goes down.  Shades of “A Star is Born”.

The whole thing is captured beautifully by director Michel Hazanavicius and is sure to garner  Oscars -  it has already received three Golden Globes.