Any year where George Clooney and Brad Pitt are competing against each other for an Oscar, or where gender identity ("Albert Nobbs"), racism ("The Help"), post-9/11 pain ("Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"), the cost of pro sports ("Moneyball") and illegal immigration ("A Better Life") are prevalent themes can't be described as a quiet one for the Academy Awards.
And yet a silent film is the major player at this year's ultimate film event, which airs Feb. 26 on ABC.
"The Artist," a winsome look at the rise and fall of a charismatic silent screen star, has become the big talk of the 2012 awards season. It has earned only about $25 million, but it was showered with 10 Oscar nominations -- including one for best actor front-runner Jean Dujardin, who has the breezy charm of Gene Kelly.
