Michel Hazanavicius’ new film The Artist would probably be worth a look just on the strength of its high-concept audacity: who makes an entirely silent, black-and-white film in 2011, besides some sort of madman? But The Artist isn’t only intriguing on its surface; it stars a few well-respected Hollywood names – James Cromwell, John Goodman, Penelope Ann Miller – and the Oscar buzz around it is starting to become deafening. (FULL STORY: Neda Ulaby, NPR)