This Week:
UPDATE - This post was written pre-Oscar's. The King's Speech won Best Picture, with Colin Firth winning the Best Actor Award, and Hooper winning Best Director.
With the Oscar's upon us (also known as something to watch on boring Sunday night TV), it's only fitting to review one of the favorites for the Best Picture Award. Going into the movie, I didn't have the greatest of expectations for a movie about a British King's stammer, but came out pleasantly suprised at the movie, and understood why it got such rave reviews and plenty of nominations.Directed by Tom Hooper (who I never heard of, but apparently directed John Adams -- the TV mini-series), the King's Speech stars Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush. Firth, whose previous movie roles I've never seen before, plays King George VI or "Bertie" (as his family and Rush's character call him). For a good part of the movie, Firth plays the part of a very reluctant soon-to-be King. But while seemingly intelligent and fit to be the top decision maker, he can't bloody speak for his life. Firth is taunted by a stammer (or what we call in the US of A - a st-st-stutter). Thus the plot evolves of one "speech therapist" coming to destroy Firth's stammer.
"Don't call me Bertie, mate."
The speech therapist - Lionel Logue (played by Rush) is discovered by Bertie's wife, Queen Elizabeth (played by Carter) in the "commoner" part of England. Logue is a failed actor who has been reduced to crappy local plays and working with individuals on how to overcome speaking impediments.
Geoffrey Rush. Can't believe it's the same guy?
Rush probably does the best out of the three big names in the movie, bringing some much needed humor in a slow-paced movie. Logue is a very likeable character who helps Bertie to realize that he does indeed have a voice, and really is deserving to be the King of Great Britain. Helena Bonham Carter (of Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, and Fight Club fame) also continues to do well playing British-themed ladies. She works well with the plot of a reluctant King -- since she herself rejected the first two proposals of King George VI (she had no desire to be a public figure).The many faces of Helena Bonham Carter, who undoubtedly wins countless British Bloggers' "Hot Chick of the Week" award:
The film progresses with Bertie working on his speaking issues with Logue and still fearing to become a King of England. His fears become reality when his father (King George V) dies, and his older brother (King Edward VIII -- played by Guy Pearce of Memento awesomeness) abdicates the throne because he wants to marry a twice-divorced American woman (those bloody Americans!). Suddenly a King, Bertie has to face his greatest fears and address the nation as it heads into World War II and faces up against the Nazi's.One of the interesting sub-plots of the movie is the issue with Bertie's brother. Back in the 1940's it was very controversial for him to want to wed a twice divorced American woman. I'm assuming these days it would probably still create a stir, but there was an emphasis in the movie that had she been British, thing's may have ended up differently. Queen Elizabeth addresses this in the movie when speaking to the famous Winston Churchill -- stating that "Apparently she has certain skills... acquired at an establishment in Shanghai." (Gotta love the British way of calling someone a whore... or a prostitute... slizz... whatever.)
Guy Pearce - Stone Cold Pimp
The movie itself is very well produced and acted. The Writer and Director seem to do a decent enough job to pass the history-nerd smell-test. Since I myself could care less, the good folks at the world's best encyclopedia debate the history merits of the movie, here. Despite a slow start and a tough topic to make a movie out of, The King's Speech earns it's stripes with great performances and unique story-telling.Perhaps the only perplexing thing about The King's Speech is the group of retarded monkeys who decided to make it rated R. The movie contains foul language and some adult content, but could have definitely been rated PG-13. That being said, it's obviously not the movie or director's fault that a bunch of big babies thought a 13 year old couldn't handle potty mouth language at times. See The Bugger! Youtube video, infra.Ten movies are nominated for Best Picture. I've seen four of those -- The King's Speech, Inception, The Social Network, and Toy Story 3. I'd say the King's Speech is right in the mix to win. My personal style favors a movie more like Inception -- rather than a movie like The King's Speech -- but it wouldn't surprise me to see The King's Speech come out on top. In the Eric ratings chart (follows much like the Michael Scott rating system from the "Beach Games" episode of The Office) - I'd give it 6 points, 3 gold stars, and 2 thumbs up.Now for the one of the funniest scenes in the movie - English swear words!:Suggestions for the next movie review? Post them in the comments!
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