Tom Hanks, Natalie Portman, Michel Hazanavicius and World War 2. Do you think this might get a few Oscar noms?

Would you like Steven Spielberg to come over there and lick your toes clean, Michel Hazanavicius? That’s probably the only accolade left.

The first silent film to win an award in ninety years is doing more than that – it’s sweeping the board at every ceremony going. But will The Artist‘s unprecedented success herald a new trend of homages to the silent films which continue to shape modern pop culture? Nicola Marchant finds out more…

ALRIGHT THE ARTIST IS THE BEST FILM EVER WE GET IT.

THEY’RE HERE! The nominations for the 84th Academy Awards have been released, and as we predicted The Artist has basically bagsied all the categories like a fat greedy child in a tuckshop. Standard.

A joyful, rich and eye-meltingly beautiful celebration of cinema, an homage to artistry throughout the ages and at its roots a love story, plain and simple – silent film The Artist is as close to perfect as we’re ever likely to get. It might be a little early to place this as the best film of 2012, but frankly, no-one could blame them for being quietly (very quietly) confident about the matter.

Michel Hazanavicius’ sequel to the French hit Nest of Spies, OSS 117: Lost in Rio is a lame, laugh-free excuse for satire. Taking its cue from offensive stereotyping and an inability to decide if it’s screwball or satire, Jean Dujarin’s secret agent neither tickles your funny bone or provides action-based thrills.