I saw this coming. Watching a silent film in 2012 is a very difficult sell. People want sound, they want voices. They want characters to tell them things, not show them. It’s easier.

Reports out of England say that audience members have gone to see The Artist after all the awards buzz it’s getting, but are walking out and demanding refunds because they didn’t know it was a silent film.

In the United States, the film is set to expand to double the amount of theaters, to around 500. Will it be a problem here? It could be. Right now it seems like it’s mostly playing at smaller art house theaters, which means that people are seeking out the movie and understand what it is.

If The Artist were to get a wide release I really doubt the vast majority of people would watch it or understand it when they’re in the theater. Please, look up the movie you’re about to watch. Why invest $10 + into something you know nothing about? Especially when it’s about to suck 2 hours of your time. [The Telegraph via The Wrap]

silent film, the artist