It’s Colin Firth’s Turn for the Oscar as “King’s Speech” Triumphs
I wish I could be in Toronto on Friday night when “The King’s Speech” is met with thunderous applause and standing ovations. (I don’t arrive until late Friday night.)
Tom Hooper‘s movie about King George VI, father of the current Queen of England, and his speech therapist, is going to rock the festival, just as it has Telluride It’s one of those Best Picture nominees that is just perfect in every way. Stars Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush–not to mention Timothy Spall, Jennifer Ehle, and Guy Pearce–just take your breath away individually and as an ensemble.
Hooper is well known for his Emmy award winning work directing mini series for HBO. He was behind “John Adams” and “Elizabeth I” with Helen Mirren. Last year Hooper made his first feature, “The Damned United.” It was a good film but it didn’t foreshadow at all what Hooper had in mind. “The King’s Speech” is a fascinating hybrid of old fashioned film making done on the cutting edge. And the nice part is, you won’t have to see it three times to figure out what happened.
The story is simple: King George (Michael Gambon)– that’s Elizabeth’s grandfather–is dying. He will be succeeded by his son, Edward (known in the family as David.) But Edward is in love with an American divorcee, Mrs. Wallis Simpson. When the king dies, Edward takes the crown. But in short time he abdicates to be with her. Next in line is Edward’s brother, “Bertie,” Elizabeth’s father. Bertie is married to another Elizabeth, whom we came to know as the Queen Mother.
Helena Bonham Carter has made so many movies with Tim Burton that you kind of forget how good she is not being crazy, evil, or possessed. She is sublime as the Queen Mum, almost a revelation. She is there to support and guide her husband, who stammers ferociously and has deep seated fears about communicating with his public. That’s where Geoffrey Rush comes in, as the real life speech therapist Lionel Logue. The scenes with three of these actors in them–Firth, Rush, and Bonham-Carter–are the actors’ scenes to beat in this awards season.
So it’s a relief to report on “The King’s Speech.” There’s none of that usual last minute gasping and wondering that has accompanied Oscar level films in the last few years. It’s the first week of September, and there’s some great to look forward to for holiday release. For the Weinstein Company, “The King’s Speech” is the much needed hit–commercially and artistically– to lift them back into the winners’ circle.
And for Colin Firth, who came close last season with “A Single Man,” it looks like 2010 is really his year.
Hi, It’s excellent to see sites with bing and thanks for the share that you’ve given. Commonly, I’m really amazed, but etc.
Elizabeth II is The Queen of THE UNITED KINGDOM of Great Britain(England,Scotland,Wales),Commonwealth and other Territories.
It would be great if the media were able to properly use correct titles.There hasn’t been a monarch of England for over 300 years!
The movie sounds magnificent,further exploring the King’s speech therapy which was touched on in the made for television movie “Bertie and Elizabeth.”
[…] Actor (Firth), Supporting Actor (Rush), and Supporting Actress (Bonhan-Carter). Roger Friedman of Showbiz 411 hails the film’s acting by singling out Colin Firth saying “it looks like 2010 is […]
I could not agree more with Mr. Friedman’s opinion that it’s Colin Firth’s “turn” for the Oscar! And high time, too!
Anyone who has really watched his performances–over the past TWENTY-FIVE YEARS!!!–knows that he shares the “rarified air” very, very few in his field can when it comes to facial expressionism. Colin Firth speaks volumes without the need for words! Then, secondarily, to watch him breathe life into his characters with words is such a GIFT and a delight!
May the Force be with you–again–this year, Colin Firth, and may you add the Oscar to the mantle bedside your BAFTA and Volpa!
Roger, A simply wonderful article, how I have suffered sitting through films that I just didn’t GET!!!!! Colin Firth is a dreamboat, can’t wait to see the film, you have me chomping at the bit!
Mary Maude Henry
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