And this week's Friday night movie has been... The King's Speech!
Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 83 (2010)
I recall when this movie when Best Picture: There was this uproar that it won because it appeared to follow the apparent formula for success: World War 2 setting. Stacked cast. Protagonist with handicap to overcome. Guide for protagonist whose credentials are dubious. Biographical.
But in the years since, it seems there seems to be a lot of contempt for this movie as it beat out The Social Network for Best Picture.
An unlikely victory akin to the movie-going public's favourite punching bag Shakespeare in Love.
Actually, now that I think of it, lets compare Shakespeare in Love with The King's Speech:
- Both are of British origin
- Both have an impressive cast showcasing the best of British acting
- Both have Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in key roles
- Both have a historical setting
- Both are distributed by the Weinstein Company
- Both on the Best Picture Oscar through beating out more favourable competition
So having said all that, what did I make of The King's Speech?
I enjoyed it.
Yes it's a given that the cast is indeed stacked - and it's great to see Helena Bonham Carter in a role where she isn't playing a complete nutter - but I like this as a small scale story in a wartime setting. Which is indeed a rarity.
The story being told is a compelling one and the speech itself, the climax of the journey taken, is indeed inspiring.
Sure there are some historical inaccuracies and some questionable directional choices but when this movie works, it does indeed work.
