The King's Speech

The moving story about King George VI and his struggle to overcome stuttering. Deftly written by David Seidler, once a stutterer himself, this movie brings on full emotion to the screen.

At a time when bringing the people of their kingdom together, united against the threat of Nazi propagation throughout Europe, the British Royal Family finds itself in a succession crisis when King George V died and Prince Edward, a socialite, is assigned the throne, clearly not wanting much to do with it. Due to Royal protocol, King Edward VII abdicated a year later so he could marry an american divorceé, leaving the throne to his younger, more serious brother, "Bertie".

Although Bertie's (later King George VI) stuttering is a very commonly overlooked piece of British Royal Family History, this story truly shows what's behind the curtains and the effort needed not only to break through the barricades, but at the same time, how such effort builds character.

The movie-watching experience, for me, is all about rooting for a character and seeing him through thick and thin to jump every hurdle set against him. I believe the greater obstacle one can face is oneself, and as such, it is so much more gratifying to prevail, and this is what Bertie did. Although faced with doubt, his effort is relentless, and, no matter the outcome, the story takes us through his determination; we can actually say, King George VI had "True Grit".

An Australian self-taught therapist, Lionel Logue, goes one-on-one with Bertie to help him get through his speech impediment. This of course, stirs-up dissent amongst conservative circles, whom not only think that any Brit could be superior to an Australian, but also clearly more qualified. Nonetheless, after having taken Bertie to different therapists, his wife, Elizabeth (Queen Mum) finds Logue, which seems to work, against the odds.

Not only do we witness an interesting interaction between Bertie and Logue, but how, also, by leveling the field, friendship strikes and endures throughout.

Amongst a motherload of intricate screenplays and complicated movies, comes this heartfelt tale that's honest and simple and straight to the point. This compelling storyline shows love, friendship, hope and perseverance. Writing like this is more and more a craft in extintion. And acting like this, both Firth and Rush, is the substance of movie legends.

I'm willing to sell all my Alien vs. Predator memorabilia to make a juicy bet that this is THE Oscar winner, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Movie... and some other casualties along the way!.. King's Speech filmmakers, prepare your own speech!

SPECULATIVE FUN FACT: If David Logue had a stuttering hot line, it'd be: 1-800-Dial-Logue

L-l-l-later dudes!

Biutiful

From a romantic and even beautiful idea about a man struggling to set his affairs in order and leave this existence peacefully comes this dreadful portrait that's anything but Biutiful. Like a couple of Valiums dropped in a warm beer, this movie drags you through the winter cold side streets of Barcelona with downer stories that for the first time in a González Iñarritu's film are interconnected through the main character rather than by some random steer of the wheel or an accidental sighting of some TV set. Like an offspring of Paul Haggis's Crash (Which with all credit due is like an offspring of Iñarritu's Amores Perros), Biutiful retakes the illegal immigrant crisis through the lens of exploitation... along with facing death, raising children and being a medium or ghost whisperer of sorts or something...Javier Bardem plays pain with dignity well worth palms and nominations.

I never cease to think there's always too much on Iñarritu's plate, and whatever crisis is going on never reaches either full importance or emotion as it is dragged to level with a whole bunch of things going on around it. For the downer it is intended to be it is well achieved, the acting, the cinematography, even the music work perfectly towards this inevitable theme of death, but at the same time there is this subplot that carries on a romantic notion of dying and going elsewhere, and going in peace, holding us down to do the right thing while we're still here.

Although I feel a Best Foreign Language Film nomination for the Oscar is a bit of a stretch, I believe the idea holds firmly through and the acting is precise, it might leave you an aftertaste of something if you manage not to fall asleep through it.

Two thumbs up, with their corresponding indexes pointing towards my head (if you manage to picture that)... But don't pull the trigger just yet. Watch it (or 2.6 stars out of five).