The King's Speech

So, as part of my new no-pencil, laissez-faire approach to writing, the mistakes I spotted in my last post I must leave and move on (synposis anyone?). However, perhaps a spell check wouldn't go astray ... and ditch the funny post titles. Although I did have a good one for Black Swan .... Hommus! And now you see why it's probably best for everyone if I just stick to the actual names of things.

I was wrong, it wasn't my last visit to the crying room. This time, Andrew and I took Ave to see The King's Speech. Who I am kidding, I'll probably be trying to take Ave to movies for months to come.

Synopsis
Soon-to-be King George VI (Colin Firth) is the awkward, knock-kneed, left-handed, stuttering second child of King George V. When his brother abdicates to marry a divorced American (he wot?!), Firth ascends the throne and must deliver a speech to his people concerning the imminent war with Hitler's Nazi Germany.

Opps, forgot to mention the actual story... Two middle aged blokes - one an Aussie, the other a Prince - develop a lasting friendship when the Aussie fixes the Brits crippling stutter. Geoffrey Rush stars as Lionel Logue (seriously - you couldn't make this shit up), the Aussie speech therapist.

What did you think about the movie, Em?
I'm glad you asked. I thought it was a lovely movie. A simple story that was beautifully executed via effortless acting, and easy-on-the-eye directing. Classy. Rush and Firth conveyed an engaging chemistry and believability, and they were beautifully bolstered by all the supporting players. It was an understated film, which is exactly as it needed to be.

The story was as much an insight into the particular conundrums posed by a Royal (do I need to Capitalise this? Seems to be a continuing problem for me...) life, as it was the developing relationship between the two leads - stubborn, angry and defensive against cheeky, patient and encouraging. It was particularly interesting for the context of what the Royal family has now become. This was the beginning of the media (or a new incarnation of it) and it's powerful influence on public perception.

Like The Queen, it plays more on the similarities between the Royals and the rest of us, rather than the differences. At the end of the day, we are all people - in this case, a father, brother, son, husband - negotiating familial responsibility with our professional duties. And unlike The Young Victoria this movie is actually worth watching. Emily Blunt is pretty nice looking, but I'm not sure 2 hours of her in slo-mo wearing costumes actually constitutes a movie?

Sorry, back to this movie. Can a stereotype be subtle? Certainly Rush is a straight talking, loyal, somewhat laconic sort of fellow - treating, and ribbing, Firth as an equal. While Firth is for his part stuffy, defensive and priggish - with this cold exterior melting under Rush's open warmth and honesty. Same old, same old ... but not quite. There is subtlety in their rendering of these 'types'. I put this down to the no-nonsense way the film was directed, allowing the actors to relate together within their rather defined characters, without any winks or nudges to the audience. There is a real, and easy, chemistry between the leads.

I certainly felt the burden of the monarchy - his daughters curtsying to him after his coronation as opposed to rolling on the floor hugging and kissing before bedtime (I did say it was subtle, right?!), and also knowing the context of his eldest little girl - who herself takes the throne at age 25. But do I buy into this? The whole woe is me of the Royal family - conveying them as real people with real problems. It's a little "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." ... or "you keep trying to tell us how difficult and stressful your job is, but we still don't know what you actually do (or why we should care, & why you get paid a fortune?)".

I do understand what they are trying to communicate (we're all people, as I said earlier). And I definitely understand the cult of celebrity. Does a person only exist if they can be seen or heard? Does the tree only make a sound if felled in a magazine pictorial (or in this instance, does the King only have a voice - or matter - if he can be heard on the radio?). Hmm, interesting...

Trivia
Jennifer Ehle played Myrtle Logue, the wife of Lionel. Not only does she do a great Aussie accent, but ... well ... it's Elizabeth Bennet!!! Mr Darcy and Miss Bennet (BBC TV Miniseries Pride and Prejudice) - together again! I'm a sucker for this sort of stuff. And did you know that Col and Jen (we're good mates) used to go out together?! You know, going steady. Awesome.