Normally I'd wait until my quarterly/half-yearly review section, but seeing as how it's in theaters now, I thought I'd mention it.
I saw The King's Speech this weekend. I knew it would be good, but I didn't realize just how good it would be.
Funny thing: I didn't want to see a movie this weekend. I've been getting my teeth kicked in at work for some time now (why I haven't finished my last six months-worth of movie reviews) and was just looking forward to a quiet night at home. But my wife and I found ourselves childless for a night, so we decided to take advantage of it. Not much showing that we knew to be good, and even though I was thinking The King's Speech would be fine to watch at home on Blu-Ray/DVD, I have to say I'm very glad I saw in a theatre. The way the film was shot, seeing the close-ups of Colin Firth on a big screen as he struggled through some scenes as the stuttering Bertie, really highighted the incredible acting he was doing.
Anyway, The King's Speech is about King George VI (whom his family called "Bertie"), who found himself thrust into the throne through a few family events that didn't go his way (he had no desire to be king). Bertie was a good family man and knew him being king would have come from some deaths in his family. He also suffered from a terrible stutter, and it did little to make him seem very royal.
And to add his panic over being a stuttering king, his country was also on the precipice of war. Hitler and the Germans were running roughshod through Europe, and his people needed a king they could stand behind.
Bertie needed someone to help him find his voice, and he finally comes into contact with Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, an Australian who has a pretty unorthodox teaching style.
I don't want to give too much away, but it's pretty safe to say the path seems pretty standard: oddball speech therapist offends the Royal, they have a spat, but he realizes that the therapist was making headway. They work together and form a bond neither thought would happen when they started. But even though the plot seems standard enough, the two lead actors brought an incredible depth to their roles-- and to the friendship the two men form.
It's a truly wonderful film, and it's amazing to watch those two actors work their roles as they did, so do yourself a favor and check it out.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Premieres and Notables; January 24-30, 2011
Monday, 1/24
RuPaul's Drag Race; Logo. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
And now... a public service announcement:
Tuesday & Wednesday
Turner Classic Movies ends its celebration of Hal Roach Studios this month with some longer-form movies from 7 pm Tuesday to 7 pm Wednesday (CST). Like I noted two weeks ago, there are some real gems in here. I mentioned that Laurel & Hardy's best work were in shorts (because many of the longer films relegated them to bit parts; still funny, but not really what I consider "Laurel & Hardy"), but there are some gems that were closer to an hour. I admit to not knowing all the stars Hal Roach Studos had, but let me lay-out the L&H films in this marathon-- and also a long-form Little Rascals film as well.
Tuesday, 1/25
***7 pm CST-- Sons of the Desert.
Stan and Ollie lie to their wives about being sick, so they can attend their lodge meeting.
It doesn't go well.
Highly recommended. This plays out like an hour-long short. The focus is squarely on the duo, just as it should be.
8:15 pm CST-- General Spanky.
An hour and fifteen minute Little Rascals film that finds Spanky, Alfalfa, and Buckwheat in the Civil War.
Wednesday, 1/26
12:45 am CST-- Zenobia.
Only Oliver Hardy is credited here. Not sure if it follows the "L&H" pattern, but I thought I'd mention it.
***3:30 am CST-- Way Out West.
Stan and Ollie in the Old West, doing what they do.
Like "Sons of the Desert", this one is like an hour-long L&H short. Some gags held together by a fairly simple plot. Lots of great stuff here to recommend as well.
4:30 pm CST-- Bonnie Scotland.
A classic film (80 minutes long) that I have to admit, I'm not 100% sure I recall the details well enough to say this is like the others I mentioned. It's one of their more famous films, so it is worth a look.
And now, back to our regular premieres post...
Tuesday, 1/25
Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?; WE tv. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A reality show that follows Joan and Melissa Rivers.
You know you've been waiting for something like this. Admit it....
A Stand Up Mother; WE tv. 9:02 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Tammy Pascatelli (a former contestant on Last Comic Standing) gets her own reality show.
Wednesday, 1/26
Desert Car Kings; Discovery. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A reality show that follows the lives of an Arizona auto-parts family-business.
Clean House; Style. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
With Tempest Bledsoe taking over for former host Niecy Nash.
Being Erica; SoapNet. 10 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Thursday, 1/27
Archer; FX. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Highly recommended. Even if it's "not for everyone", it's still worth a try.
Especially if you like old-school Adult Swim sensibilities, secret agents who screw anything that walks, office personnel who get aroused from being choked, drunk "mad scientist" types, traitorous heads of spy agencies, and a near-complete disrespect for manservants...
Listen: just try it...
Friday, 1/28
Working Class; CMT. 7 and 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
CMT's first scripted series. This one's about a single mom and a nosy neighbor (or coworker, depending on what magazine I read) played by Ed Asner.
Sunday, 1/30
Brick City; Sundance. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
RuPaul's Drag Race; Logo. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
And now... a public service announcement:
Tuesday & Wednesday
Turner Classic Movies ends its celebration of Hal Roach Studios this month with some longer-form movies from 7 pm Tuesday to 7 pm Wednesday (CST). Like I noted two weeks ago, there are some real gems in here. I mentioned that Laurel & Hardy's best work were in shorts (because many of the longer films relegated them to bit parts; still funny, but not really what I consider "Laurel & Hardy"), but there are some gems that were closer to an hour. I admit to not knowing all the stars Hal Roach Studos had, but let me lay-out the L&H films in this marathon-- and also a long-form Little Rascals film as well.
Tuesday, 1/25
***7 pm CST-- Sons of the Desert.
Stan and Ollie lie to their wives about being sick, so they can attend their lodge meeting.
It doesn't go well.
Highly recommended. This plays out like an hour-long short. The focus is squarely on the duo, just as it should be.
8:15 pm CST-- General Spanky.
An hour and fifteen minute Little Rascals film that finds Spanky, Alfalfa, and Buckwheat in the Civil War.
Wednesday, 1/26
12:45 am CST-- Zenobia.
Only Oliver Hardy is credited here. Not sure if it follows the "L&H" pattern, but I thought I'd mention it.
***3:30 am CST-- Way Out West.
Stan and Ollie in the Old West, doing what they do.
Like "Sons of the Desert", this one is like an hour-long L&H short. Some gags held together by a fairly simple plot. Lots of great stuff here to recommend as well.
4:30 pm CST-- Bonnie Scotland.
A classic film (80 minutes long) that I have to admit, I'm not 100% sure I recall the details well enough to say this is like the others I mentioned. It's one of their more famous films, so it is worth a look.
And now, back to our regular premieres post...
Tuesday, 1/25
Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?; WE tv. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A reality show that follows Joan and Melissa Rivers.
You know you've been waiting for something like this. Admit it....
A Stand Up Mother; WE tv. 9:02 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Tammy Pascatelli (a former contestant on Last Comic Standing) gets her own reality show.
Wednesday, 1/26
Desert Car Kings; Discovery. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A reality show that follows the lives of an Arizona auto-parts family-business.
Clean House; Style. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
With Tempest Bledsoe taking over for former host Niecy Nash.
Being Erica; SoapNet. 10 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Thursday, 1/27
Archer; FX. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Highly recommended. Even if it's "not for everyone", it's still worth a try.
Especially if you like old-school Adult Swim sensibilities, secret agents who screw anything that walks, office personnel who get aroused from being choked, drunk "mad scientist" types, traitorous heads of spy agencies, and a near-complete disrespect for manservants...
Listen: just try it...
Friday, 1/28
Working Class; CMT. 7 and 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
CMT's first scripted series. This one's about a single mom and a nosy neighbor (or coworker, depending on what magazine I read) played by Ed Asner.
Sunday, 1/30
Brick City; Sundance. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
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