Most of the time I feel ashamed for being a part of human race. The shit we do each other on daily basis, people to other people, simultaneously shocks me, freighters me and disturbs me. We kill our animals, we kill others, we kill ourselves. Not so long ago there was a blogathon - which movies would you show to aliens who visited our planet to best demonstrate the qualities of human race. While I'm sure if the aliens hang out long enough they would make a correct decision of killing us all and leaving the place to animals, I must say sometimes people surprise me. Sometimes as I watch others and their acts of kindness I have a fleeting sensation of hope. Sometimes even I surprise myself in positive way. Sometimes I read about ordinary people or historical figures and their big sacrifices or quite battles. Or I simply happen to watch a movie about them. And that gives me more hope, seeing that we can be good too..I find The King's Speech to be incredibly underrated picture, despite its Oscar wins. Ever since it won, people have been bitching about it. My all time favorite movie was nominated back then but I'm glad The King's Speech won. In fact, I find it to be one of the best Best Picture winners. People who can't tear themselves from ipads and had a surge of euphoria during every single "cool" and "amazingly clever" exchange in Fincher's movie about the creator of facebook will scream about the superiority of The Social Network. I, myself, had I not been a romantic person would scream about how original Black Swan was and how old fashioned The King's Speech looks comparing to it. But the thing is that The King's Speech is the perfect movie for Best Picture - it's lovely, warm and it has something the aforementioned don't - it's genuinely uplifting. Not everyone needs unique films with posh, polished dialogue like The Social Network. Not everyone likes being devastated by films like Black Swan, which leaves its audiences in despair. But we all like to smile, don't we?
I wrote about quiet battles in the beginning - and King George, shy, awkward man must fight such battle. Unable to use his words, unable to lead, he must find the strength to give a speech. Something as simple as speech. Something that can give his people hope. That can give the others encouragement. That can give him the confidence to be a leader. And the whole movie is leading up to him giving that single speech, that for all we know had an impact on the future events.
I had been taking my mother to see movies for a decade now. We saw a lot of movies together. But after The King's Speech was over she simply turned to me and said "what a beautiful film". Not once did it happen before. Not once did it happen again.
I turn on the news and every day there are new stories - mother killing her six children. People putting their dogs in laundry machines and ovens. Children being raped. School shootings. Hit and runs. Domestic violence. In a flood of violence and ugliness, news of human kindness and courage go unnoticed. And that is something that should be sensational - one human being being kind, supportive and loving to another. One person finding a friend in someone. Someone overcoming his difficulties, even seemingly as silly and insignificant as stammer.
Man, who becomes a king, to protect his nation. Woman, who stands by her husband no matter what. Teacher, who becomes a friend. I will forever be glad that The King's Speech didn't go unnoticed.
Read the review of the movie - HERE
Here, here to this superb post about The King's Speech!!
ReplyDelete2010 was an exceptionally tough year to pick favorites for Best Pictures. While my favorite was Inception, I definitely understand The King's Speech was a film so many audiences could and did support because of the uplifting story. :D
Thank you!
DeleteYeah there were so many terrific films in 2010, but I think The King's Speech was the obvious and decent choice there.
Good review Sati. In all honesty, I liked this movie but I didn't love it. It definitely had some great and inspirational moments to it, but of all the movies to win Best Picture that year, this would have definitely not been my first choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks! If I were to chose my personal favorite it would probably be number 3, but it was one of those times when the choice made by Academy didn't piss me off.
DeleteI do like this film. Whenever it's on TV, I find myself watching it. Colin Firth definitely deserved that Oscar although I really think Ryan Gosling should've gotten it for Blue Valentine.
ReplyDeleteGosling was fantastic in Blue Valentine, his best work for me. He wasn't even nominated right? Crazy :/
DeleteGoing in, I was sort of rolling my eyes and thinking this was pure Oscar bait, as I was rooting for Fincher.
ReplyDeleteOn the way out, I was enamored and found the film to be damn near perfect.
Great choice, Sati.
I'm very glad you liked it! It's one of those films that just warm your heart and make you smile in the end.
DeleteWhat a splendid choice, Sati. I ADORE this movie and I was rooting for this to win Best Picture! Yeah I didn't care that people bitch about it, in fact in my Oscar race post I wrote that a movie doesn't have to be so dark and depressing to be deep and poignant! I find this one to be one of the best Best Picture Winners too, and one I don't mind revisiting over and over again.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about it... it is indeed 'lovely, warm and genuinely uplifting.' The unlikely friendship between King George and Lionel are quite inspiring. Plus the cinematography and score are just gorgeous!
Thank you! Glad you liked the movie so much, exactly, I personally like dark movies but I'd drive myself insane if I only saw those - sometimes a feel good movie can be just as great.
DeleteI loved the friendship between them - the ending scenes where they just smiled to each other were so lovely. I also loved that the last line of the film was that they remained close friends till their deaths.
Terrific write-up. Sometimes people just want to feel good at a movie, and that's what this film does. It's not my favorite of 2010 either, but I agree that The King's Speech does provide some inspiration in the crazy times we live in.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I tihnk it's even romantic in a sense - it shows good people and even the weak ones as George's brother sacrifice something not out of fear but out of love.
DeleteGreat point. Never thought of it like that before.
DeleteIt was a nice film. The performances and the look were great.
ReplyDeleteWhat irks me about it though, more than the Best Picture win, was the Best Director win for Hooper instead of Fincher.
I might rewatch it sometime. Good post :)
Thanks! I was mad Fincher didn't win too, but it wasn't because I felt he should win for TSN - I think it's a big waste he didn't win for Se7en.
DeleteI just love this film. And I totally get your feeling about Fincher's love back then. I know Social Network is a movie of our generation, but come on, it simply showed a friend backstab a friend. But it didn't moved me the way King's Speech did. I gave it perfect score before it got a best picture, and I really glad it win.
ReplyDeleteYeah, people were calling TSN new Citizen Kane, I mean it was a good movie, but that was a big overraction. I could maybe see such a response for Se7en but TSN wasn't even Fincher's best.
DeleteLovely post Sati. I have quite a bad stutter myself so I found it a particularly emotional film as it was something I could relate to incredibly closely. Granted I've never had to send a country to war but even ordering in a restaurant can be a struggle so I know the feelings Firth portrays (excellently) all too well.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I can only imagine, I hope it gets better for you!
DeleteGreat post (as always) The King's Speech is a very good film, even if I liked quite a few of the other Best Pic nominees that year better, I can't call King's Speech bad. For me, it's not very re-watchable.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I only saw the movie again recently, but I think i will watch it many more times, with the amount of depressing films to come in oscar season it's good to have something uplifting ready :)
DeleteThis was a very good, engaging film. I waited a while to catch it but I do think from a promotional sense, some criticism in reaction to the fact that it was part of Weinstein's big Oscar push which happens every year.
ReplyDeleteWeinstein really needs to back off - it is very annoying and personally I can't believe that after all of those gift baskets sent to the Academy members news broke he is still so highly regarded in Hollywood :/
DeleteI agree that this is a wonderful movie. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI basically have a positive/hopeful view of humanity, though I have to admit maintaining it is a damn lot of work. Some days it just isn't worth it. :-)
My son, who is only 14, reckons if there's any justice we'll be eradicated from the planet to give other animals a fair chance at quality of life. There's a cheerful thought. :-)
Thank you!
DeleteI lost my positive view of humanity a long time ago, animal abuse alone would make me think people are basically unworthy of existance.
That sounds fair, actually :) But who would pet the animals?:)