I was worried that I was going to find The Artist boring and pompous. Instead I found it entertaining and fun.

The Best Picture Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner is a virtually silent, mostly black and white film that pays homage to an era my late grandmother loved to tell me about when I was a restless, know-it-all teenager.

I tried watching at least one silent movie with grandma but I quickly grew bored. I thought the "mugging" of the actors was weird, the stars looked old and alike, and I couldn't follow the plot because no one was saying anything on screen.

I enjoyed grandma's stories about the heartthrobs of her youth but when I saw photos of her childhood idols, Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., I was surprised. When I showed grandma photos of my crushes, Scott Baio and Corey Haim, she was surprised. She'd sigh and say something like "They don't look like stars. They look like the rowdy boys down the street." Grandma favored guys with short, neat haircuts who dressed in suits. I favored guys with messy hair who wore jeans. She'd carry on about Fred Astaire and the Rat Pack and I'd yawn and wait to discuss Patrick Swayze and the Brat Pack.

When I read about the making of "The Artist," I was concerned. How would it screen in today's giant theaters with jumbo speakers? Was it going to poke fun at Old Hollywood? Was it going to be criticized and ridiculed by today's Justin Bieber obsessed youth?

I'm happy to report that the film was entertaining, fun and filled me with joyful memories of grandma. I finally understand what grandma meant when she said movie acting was better when actors weren't allowed to talk. There's so much imagination involved in watching a story unfold without words. You have to pay such close attention to the screen that you must nudge aside those nagging worries and to-do lists that always seem to be at the edge of your mind. You have to really watch the movie. Viewers experience the fear, anxiety, happiness, excitement, anticipation, dread and disgust the character is feeling when the telling of the story is so delightfully simple that spoken words are unnecessary.

Can you tell that I loved the film? Go see it and take your Zac Efron loving teenage daughter with you. One day, she'll appreciate it!