#15 - The King's Speech (2010)

Woo, I'm up to double-digit followers!

Today was a big day! I was observed in my first hour French I class, and I think everything went pretty well, despite the fact that my SmartBoard today decided to be a real douchebag and not work properly (thankfully today was not a note-heavy day!), and for the most part, my students did a really nice job of participating and being good students.  Thanks kids!

I also got a few packages today: an Audiobook of The Picture of Dorian Gray to listen to on my way to Kalamazoo this weekend, a new battery for my new laptop, a new board game that I'm super excited to try out, and a cordless mouse for my new laptop.  Huzzah!  Presents for Phil = positive.

A few days ago, I made a post online to my Facebook friends, not-so-subtly asking if anyone wanted to see today's movie with me, and I am pleased to report that my friend Erika took me up on my invitation and we headed out to the MJR to see The King's Speech. 

I did not go into the movie without quite a bit of knowledge about its content, as well as several opinions of what others thought about it when they saw it.  They were not wrong.  I don't mean to say that I went in with prejudices and a completely pre-formed opinion, but I agree with most of what I heard.  A brief synopsis:

1. Colin Firth is excellent.  True.  He really gives a terrific performance (the kind of performance the Academy just eats up, for sure).
2. Geoffrey Rush is excellent.  True.  Loved him.  What a great and balanced character that he portrayed so well.
3. Helena Bonham Carter is good, but the role is simple.  True.  The role is cake.  Facile.
4. This movie is no "The Social Network".  True.  They shouldn't even be considered in the same breath in terms of scope, depth, direction, editing, and impact.
5. It's a fine/good/very nice movie.  True.  It's not a great film, but it's a very good film.  It deserves about 86% of the magnitude of the lauding it's been given. 

Overall, I'm glad I saw it, and I will be perfectly happy when Colin Firth wins an Oscar on February 27th.

Score: 8/10

Would-be Deserved Oscar Nominations:

Best Picture,  Best Actor (Firth), Best Supporting Actor (Rush), Best Original Score, Best Film Editing