Oscars celebrate cinema’s past

If you look at the two films that recieved the most nominations this year – Hugo and The Artist – they both pay homage to the early days of film. Take into account two other nominees that reference the past – War Horse and Midnight In Paris – and it’s clear the Academy wants to honour the golden age of Hollywood.

 The Artist, with its 10 nominations, is a critical favorite with the best shot at taking home Best Picture. The completely silent film takes place in Hollywood in 1927, documenting the budding romance between silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and newcomer Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). George is on top of the world as one of the most desirable stars of the screen – but when talking pictures are introduced, he fears his career is over.

Hugo, which raked in the most nominations this year at 11, is Martin Scorsese’s 3-D fairy-tale look at the life of French illusionist and filmmaker Georges Melies, through the eyes of an orphan boy living in a Paris railway station. Melies was one of the first people to make films in the late 1800s.

War Horse is an Old Hollywood throwback that tells the story of Albert and his beloved horse Joey. After his parents sell off the horse to the calvary, Albert enlists to serve in the first World War in the hopes of one day being reunited with his symbiotic friend.

Midnight In Paris is Woody Allen’s look back at the 1920s. The romantic comedy focuses around the relationship between Gil (Owen Wilson) and his fiance Inez (Rachel McAdams) while they vacation in Paris. As Gil grows fonder of Paris he wants the couple to move there, but Inez doesn’t feel the same. When he begins to take midnight walks around Paris, he is transported back to the roaring twenties, a decade he idolizes.

Watch the trailer for The Artist:

Source: CNN

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