"The Artist"

I know I've promised to keep my blog going on my return to UK but somehow not quite getting round to it, or else always finding something else to do which at the time seems important, like cleaning or ironing or just generally time wasting. I must spend hours just dithering and generally messing about. So now that I've started I plan to continue. Though what I'm going to write about I have no idea. Life in Edinburgh is not quite the same as life in Peru, interesting to me but maybe not to anyone else.

Last night I went to see "The Artist", which I reckon is a minor masterpiece. I went along thinking this could be a real test of endurance but left absolutely enchanted. It's a love story, a romance and a comedy set in the 20s as the talkies are taking over the world. It's the story of George Valentin, a successful movie star who falls in love  with a film extra who goes on to be a hugely successful star in the talkies. He refuses to have anything to do with what he sees as a passing fad, and the film is the story of his slow but inevitable fall to the bottom.

It's a sexy movie with no sex. Just a few kisses. The moment they meet on set at the beginning and fall in love is beautifully done, and you know it's going to be a great night of cinema.

By the end, I was in tears, but tears of joy and happiness. It's a truly uplifting experience. If you are a dog lover this film has one of the best doggie performances you will ever see. He is called Uggie, a very suitable name for him too. He is a brave, funny wee dog, who deserves the doggie Oscar if there is such a thing, and if not one should be introduced just for him.

I've never heard of the lead actor, guy called Jean Dujardin, but he has a touch of Rudolph Valentino and Gene Kelly about him and a touch of genius. The lead actress  is South American, Berenice Bejo, and she is simply beautiful, and a fine actress to boot.

Go see this movie and if the ending doesn't leave you moved (maybe even to tears like me) I will give you a refund.

The night before I went to see the Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey Jnr playing old Sherlock, though not so old of course. It's all fights and explosions and nothing like the Sherlock I remember from my youth. It's good to see Robert though looking in fine fettle and not at all like a jailbird. There is a very disturbing scene where Stephen Fry appears stark naked, with his great big fat belly hanging down...  just not good Stephen. Next time I see you on IQ I will have to  try not to think about it.

It's not a patch on the BBC version with Benedict Cumberbatch which is one of the best things on tele right now and definitely worth watching.