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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The King's Speech

I consider this to be the "feel-good" movie of 2010. 'Feel-good' in the way of triumphant intelligence. We judge of the high honors people receive, but we do not always know the reason they are honored, just trust that it was something important or advised. Sometimes, eccentricity can cure the eccentric.
Based on the process of King George IV, played by magnificent Colin Firth, overcoming his speech impediment and fear of public speaking as he is lead toward the thrown. After trying multiple physicians with no improvement King George has given up. His wife, Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), is still determined to find someone who can help her husband. She comes across a slightly different speech therapist, Lionel Louge (Geoffry Rush), who doesn't exactly use the 'normal' methods of therapy. King George is at first stubborn, but gives in for the sake of his wife. Lionel and King George's are vastly different but, they soon develop an odd trustful friendship.
Colin Firth is amazing in the way he handles any character he plays. Helena Bonham Carter is a doll, and dearly close to my heart (acting wise). Nothing need by said of the great Geoffry Rush. In my opinion both Firth and Rush are some of the best actors of their generations. Tom Hopper, the director, mastered this period piece and I hope continues to do many more. This is by far one of the best historic films I have seen, in my lifetime (of 14 years). Every element captures the time period perfectly. Simply a masterpiece.

Monday, March 14, 2011

83rd Academy Award Winners

It seems like every year the feel good film wins best picture. Except of course for the 2008 Oscar which went to No Country For Old Men. I am not saying that The King's Speech did not get its well deserved attention, but Black Swan seemed to be shockingly pushed aside. The King's Speech, good screenplay, good cinematography, good art direction, but overall Black Swan was a better movie and more worthy of the spotlight.
(And another well deserved win in costuming to Colleen Atwood!)


Best Picture
The King's Speech
who should have won: Black Swan

Best Directing
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech
who should have won: Darron Aaronofsky - Black Swan

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Colin Firth - The King's Speech

Best Actress In a Leading Role
Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Best Actor In a Supporting Role
Christian Bale - The Fighter
who should have won: Geoffry Rush - The King's Speech

Best Actress In a Supporting Role
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
who should have won: Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

Best Art Direction
Alice In Wornderland - Production Design: Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara

Best Cinematography
Inception - Wally Pfister
who should have one: Black Swan - Matthew Libatique

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
The King's Speech - David Seidler

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin

Music (Original Score)
The Social Network - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song)
We Belong Together, by Music & Lyric by Randy Newman - Toy Story 3

Costume Design
Alice In Wonderland - Colleen Atwood

Makeup
The Wolfman - Rick Baker & Dave Elsey

Best Animated Feature
Toy Story 3

Best Documentary (Feature)
Inside Job - Charles Ferguson & Audrey Marrs
who should have won: Exit Through The Gift Shop - Banksy & Jamie D'Cruz

Best Documentary (Short Subject)
Strangers No More - Karen Goodman & Kirk Simon
who should have won: Killing In The Name - Jed Rothstein

Foreign Language Film
In A Better World (Denmark)

Best Short (Live Action)
God Of Love - Luke Matheny

Best Short (Animated)
The Lost Thing - Shaun Tan & Andrew Ruhemann

Visual Effects
Inception

Film Editing
The Social Network

Sound Editing
Inception

Sound Mixing
Inception