The King's Speech - Wow

[Craig]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:04pm

Loved it and think that Firth should just be handed the Oscar this year. Geoffrey Rush was also outstanding and will no doubt get (at least) a best supporting nod

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:25pm

I saw it yesterday. It's Rush's picture. I really like the movie except for Guy Pearce, Eve Best and Timothy Spall. All three of them are dreadful, but their parts are so small they don't really do any lasting damage to an otherwise excellent film.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:28pm

I saw it Christmas day and loved it as well. The Oscar buzz is well deserved. Firth's performance during the "final speech scene" was particularly remarkable.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:28pm

Is this movie anything other than the batch of "triumph over handicap" Lifetime/Masterpiece Theatre cliches the trailer makes it look like? I just can't imagine shelling out first run prices to see this thing, no matter how fine the performances.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:35pm

I don't watch Lifetime movies nor Masterpiece Theatre, so I can't compare. But I thoroughly enjoyed myself during the entire film and thought it was brilliant! Probably the best movie of the year, though I did enjoy BLACK SWAN more.

Rush should win. I hope Firth wins, too!

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:36pm

Yes, the relationship that develops between the two men is an unlikely and extraordinary tale.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 1:15pm

Saw it on Christmas. While I agree the acting was outstanding, the story did not grab me. It was kind of the same old "triumph over a handicapped" story. I was not that impressed overall.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 1:24pm

Really? I thought there was so much more to it than that.

[wexy]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 2:29pm

Good film and also interesting for me with me because I deal with a lot speech and language delayed people.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 3:18pm

I'm a big history nerd and was really looking forward to this movie. I understand that the movie was about Bertie and Lionel's relationship. But I do wish that there was more of an historical subplot in there. I would have loved to have seen more about his ascent to the throne. It was kind of thrown in there without going through the full ramifications of it and its effect on England.

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 3:21pm

Comparing this film to a Lifetime movie is idiotic.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 2:20pm

I went to this movie thinking that I would hate it since I stutter and usually hate the "look at x overcome his disability crap" but my love for politics made me want to see it. I do have to say they did a very commendable job. I liked it a lot and have been recommending it to people. Not overly schmaltzy and certainly realistic. Speech therapy was not presented as a cure-all and for that I was very, very grateful.

Firth's stutter was actually quite good and he acted the part quite well. I usually HATE when people try to attempt to stutter on stage or film because it is rarely done in a realistic way. Granted he didn't have to portray a moderate/severe stutterer, which would have been far harder without being campy, but he did well with the King's mild case (at least mild compared to my own).

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/29/10 at 2:05am

Not one of my favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed Firth and Rush and think Firth is a lock for an Oscar win. Rush is trumped by Christian Bale's remarkably (and flashier) work in "The Fighter." I think Helena Bonham-Carter's role is oddly under-developed and under-written. I'm shocked she's getting so much award's attention. There are MUCH more worthy performances out there.

I found the film as a whole interesting but a little boring. I really wanted to like it, but I found the performances to be much better than the writing. And the directing/ cinematography are fine but a little gratuitous in the "artsy" way.

This certainly not Best Picture material and I'd say it would be a crying shame if it were to win in a year with such terrific/ VERY current films as "The Social Network," "Inception" and "The Fighter" (among others).

[singtopher]

Posted: 12/30/10 at 11:30pm

^Why does the BP have to be current?

I really loved the movie. Firth is flippin' brilliant, as is Rush. I agree that Carter is wonderful in an underdeveloped role. It goes much deeper than a typical overcoming disability movie.

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/31/10 at 8:31am

This movie, and its performances, far exceeded my expectations. I am usually underwhelmed by overhyped performances of a character with any sort of disability, but Firth was remarkable. While HBC's character was underwritten, she certainly made the most of it.

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 11:24am

I thought it was good. Firth and Rush are excellent, but they (along with some very good dialogue) are the film's only non-tech elements that I'd consider to be great. Again, I didn't dislike it. I just wasn't surprised or moved in any way that I didn't expect going in.

I think Helena Bonham-Carter's role is oddly under-developed and under-written. I'm shocked she's getting so much award's attention. There are MUCH more worthy performances out there.

Agreed, she was completely untested.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 11:39am

Firth and Rush are certainly the main reasons to see the film. It's a good film, but I wouldn't call it a great film.

My main issue with the film has to due with the fact that the MPAA stuck it with an R rating because of the one scene in which Firth lets out a cathartic string of profanity. I mean, come on. In a film with no violence, sex, substance abuse, or really anything objectionable, that one scene (which is extremely important to character development) is enough to garner an R?

[sabrelady]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:20pm

Very much liked the film. Esp how they placed a subtle emphasis on the class differences between the two men- the fact that these two men would NEVER have otherwise met.Even the "anti colonial" disminishment that the Aussi Louge encountered.
I actually liked Helena Bonham Carter for maybe the 1st time. I suspect w her background she knew exzactly how a woman like Elizabeth the Duchess of York would have behaved in that time.
Firth was wonderful as the Duke. He seemed to understand the character and his status in the family"firm" on a deep psychological level and it showed in so many ways. I can't comment on the "stammer technique" other than it seemed flawless to me.
There was a tiny little part for the Princess Elizabeth- I almost gawcked- she looked so much like the young Elizabeth.

The profanity- I do wonder HOW they are going to edit that out for the inevitable sale to TV - may be change them all to "poop" "booger" "frick" "fanny" ( which is actually a naughty word in Blighty being the "front bi on a woman- not the sitting portion!)
Firth really should be a lock for the the awards season.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:56pm

This certainly not Best Picture material and I'd say it would be a crying shame if it were to win in a year with such terrific/ VERY current films as "The Social Network," "Inception" and "The Fighter" (among others).

Yeah, I second singtopher's question, why does Best Picture have to be current? There are some great period movies that have won the award, the award isn't for "most socially relevant film," it's just Best Picture.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:59pm

I saw this yesterday and enjoyed it very much. Firth pulled me into Bertie's anxiety and fury from the beginning through the end.

As a longtime fan of the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, I loved that Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth shared some camera time, even if it was "blink and you'll miss it" brief.

And the MPAA "R" rating just shows how totally beyond absurd that system has been for years.

[wonkit]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:18pm

I have always admired Colin Firth and enjoyed his performances but he completely took my breath away on this one. During his delivery of the final speech, his effect on me was so direct and mesmerizing - it was as close as I have ever come in a movie to feeling the same electricity I feel during a good live theater performance.

[violet72]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 4:23pm

saw this NYE and I agree Firth was VERY good in it. But I think it was more then disabilty being conquered...I wish that they really got into how David (his older brother) was very antisemetic and was on Hitler's side. In fact at one point in the war if Hitler conquered England he was going to put him back on the throne. But I enjoyed it anyway

[americanboy99]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 6:50pm

Ray & SingTopher-

I'd say that the Best Picture winner defines the cinema year historically. If a period film is the best of the year, then that's great and I'm all for it. But, IMHO, there are MUCH better movies out there this year that not are not only great but also provide a thrilling look at where filmmaking (and, in some cases, society) is today (i.e. Inception, The Social Network, The Fighter).

[Gensho]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 10:33pm

I thought the whole film rode on Firth & Rush's performances and they were both brilliant.
I particularly loved the scene when Lionel asked Bertie to sing when discussing painful things. Powerful scene!
And yes the girl who played the young Elizabeth looked strikingly like her.

[Miss B. L. T. Down]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 10:22am

It's strange. Colin Firth is my favorite current actor. Loved him in this movie. Yet, if I were a voting member of the Academy, I'd vote for Jesse Eisenberg this year. Can't believe I am saying that. Of course neither has been nominated - yet.