2010 - The King's Speech
For my readers who will be in Sydney this weekend, come see me tread the boards in Love-All: A Roseville Story at the Chatswood Lounge. From playwright Alexandra Long, whose screenplay Thank God He Met Lizzie (released in the US as The Wedding Party) was one of Cate Blanchett's first films, the satirical play explores the sordid antics of four men at a fancy suburban tennis club. If you've ever had a hankering to see me play a middle-aged lothario, now's your chance!
Time now to take a look at the next contender in the 2010 Best Picture race...
The King's Speech
Director:
Tom Hooper
Screenplay:
David Seidler
Starring:
Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, Derek Jacobi, Jennifer Ehle, Michael Gambon
Academy Awards:
12 nominations
4 wins, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Firth)
As a representative of the British Royal Family, Prince Albert, Duke of York (Firth), known to those close to him as Bertie, is often called upon to give public speeches, a task with which he struggles due to his severe stutter. Upon the insistence of his wife, Elizabeth (Bonham Carter), Bertie begins to work with speech therapist Lionel Logue (Rush), though it takes some time for Logue to earn Bertie's trust.
According to my (slightly nerdy) movie spreadsheet, I must have rather immensely enjoyed The King's Speech upon my first viewing of it during its original run because I declared it one of my favourites of 2010. For some reason, the intervening years seemingly played havoc on my memory and I went into this second viewing fully expecting to find the film to be just a bland and boring story about a bunch of stuffy British folk. Instead, however, mere moments after pressing play, I was reminded of how incredibly beautiful this film truly is. The striking cinematography; the resplendent sets and costumes; the exquisite score; even the sound design, while deceptively simple, is magnificently moody. Ultimately, these elements serve to create a work of art that is far from bland or boring.
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At the heart of all this charm are David Seidler's superb Oscar-winning script and Tom Hooper's skilled Oscar-winning direction. Despite the slow pace and limited action, they capture our attention and never let go, aided also by appealing performances from the entire ensemble. Carrying the film is Colin Firth in his Oscar-winning role as the stuttering royal. Portraying a speech impediment can often test the limits of the audience's suspension of disbelief, since we all know the actor doesn't stammer in real life, but kudos to Firth, who genuinely pulls it off well. Supporting him are excellent scene-stealing turns by an Oscar-nominated Helena Bonham Carter, an Oscar-nominated Geoffrey Rush and a had-to-wait-another-14-years-to-be-Oscar-nominated Guy Pearce. Jennifer Ehle also impresses in a smaller role, but let's be honest, we were all just enjoying the albeit brief Pride and Prejudice reunion between Ehle and Firth (pictured together, with Rush).
Time now to take a look at the next contender in the 2010 Best Picture race...
The King's SpeechDirector:
Tom Hooper
Screenplay:
David Seidler
Starring:
Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, Derek Jacobi, Jennifer Ehle, Michael Gambon
Academy Awards:
12 nominations
4 wins, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Firth)
As a representative of the British Royal Family, Prince Albert, Duke of York (Firth), known to those close to him as Bertie, is often called upon to give public speeches, a task with which he struggles due to his severe stutter. Upon the insistence of his wife, Elizabeth (Bonham Carter), Bertie begins to work with speech therapist Lionel Logue (Rush), though it takes some time for Logue to earn Bertie's trust.
According to my (slightly nerdy) movie spreadsheet, I must have rather immensely enjoyed The King's Speech upon my first viewing of it during its original run because I declared it one of my favourites of 2010. For some reason, the intervening years seemingly played havoc on my memory and I went into this second viewing fully expecting to find the film to be just a bland and boring story about a bunch of stuffy British folk. Instead, however, mere moments after pressing play, I was reminded of how incredibly beautiful this film truly is. The striking cinematography; the resplendent sets and costumes; the exquisite score; even the sound design, while deceptively simple, is magnificently moody. Ultimately, these elements serve to create a work of art that is far from bland or boring.
.jpg)
At the heart of all this charm are David Seidler's superb Oscar-winning script and Tom Hooper's skilled Oscar-winning direction. Despite the slow pace and limited action, they capture our attention and never let go, aided also by appealing performances from the entire ensemble. Carrying the film is Colin Firth in his Oscar-winning role as the stuttering royal. Portraying a speech impediment can often test the limits of the audience's suspension of disbelief, since we all know the actor doesn't stammer in real life, but kudos to Firth, who genuinely pulls it off well. Supporting him are excellent scene-stealing turns by an Oscar-nominated Helena Bonham Carter, an Oscar-nominated Geoffrey Rush and a had-to-wait-another-14-years-to-be-Oscar-nominated Guy Pearce. Jennifer Ehle also impresses in a smaller role, but let's be honest, we were all just enjoying the albeit brief Pride and Prejudice reunion between Ehle and Firth (pictured together, with Rush).
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