Two Recommendations

I don't see movies that often, so it was a big deal to see two in one week and I'd recommend both.

The Artist

When I first saw the trailer for this, I was excited because it was definitely not something you see everyday.  And I think this is a stand-alone sort of film; to make another would be too much.  The Artist follows the fall of a silent film star and the rise of a talking film star.  As someone unaccustomed to watching black and white silent films, it was interesting to realize just how much actors can portray without needing to speak and the acting is quite good. The movie plays with the silent film genre while also adopting its common features. For example, the soundtrack could have been written 90 years ago, but there are other times when sound is added or paused to create an interesting effect.  Silent films are thematicized throughout as a thing of the past, yet here is a new film, even though the plot of boy meets girl is old as well.  All in all (quoting my English students who often use this phrase) it is an enjoyable watch!

Pina

This is a documentary which isn't your normal documentary.  Dedicated to choreographer Pina Bausch, Wim Wenders has filmed several of her dances as well as solos and duets by company members.  Wenders documents the dances, or sometimes better-termed the movement stories, which are full of strong emotions that come out through the movements.  However, the film is effective because it heightens the emotions and effectiveness of the choreography through visual composition, lending proximity to the dancers, background scenery, and music, so even if I didn't always understand or like the movement, it was still an experience.  I saw this in 2-D, but there is also a 3-D version out there.  I was perfectly pleased with the 2-D version though.