The King's Speech (2010)

The King's Speech was Oscar winner for Best Picture at the Oscars's this year, and so of course I was wild to see it.  Rated PG-13 (The original, unedited version is R for some language) and directed by Tom Hooper, its story explores the drama of a reluctant royal overcoming his speech impediment to step up when he was needed by his country, leading them through the uncertain times that came with Britain's entrance into World War II. 

This film is enthrallingly crafted, from the attention to period details to the amazing depth of its actors.  Colin Firth plays Albert, the Duke of York, who later ascends to become King George VI, while Helena Bonham Carter plays his wife, Elizabeth.  Keep in mind the family tree of the royal family now; these are Queen Elizabeth II's parents!  There was also a royal wedding recently, as you may be aware, and so these would be Prince William's great grandparents... just to add that perspective. 

In the movie we see glimpses of a young little Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret.  This, and the situation surrounding Edward, Albert's elder brother is fascinating to me.  Edward actually became king after the death of their father in 1936, but due to his love and devotion to American socialite Wallis Simpson, he was forced to abdicate when he proposed marriage to her, as the Church of England did not allow divorced persons to remarry if their ex-spouses were still alive.  Wallis Simpson had not divorced once, but twice, and was deemed unsuitable in many ways to rule at Edward's side.  This really puts a spotlight on how the modern royal family has changed, but of course, Albert, Duke of York, would never have become King George VI, and the royal family would not be what they are today without the abdication of Edward in that history changing crisis. 

In the movie, "Bertie" (as Albert is nick-named) is desperate to treat his stammering to better perform his public speaking, and his wife finds speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, hoping he can help.  No ordinary doctor, Logue pushes the limits of Bertie's patience and frequently forces him outside of his comfort zone.  With humor, honest opinions, and a no-nonsense approach to treatment, the pair form an unlikely friendship, both treating the other as an equal, despite one first being a duke, and later a king, and the other a modest commoner.  This, fascinatingly enough, is all true to reality, and as stated at the end of the film, Lionel Logue was awarded for his personal service to the king, and they remained friends for life.

This movie can be enjoyed by a wide audience.  It contains nothing particularly inappropriate, though has much that only a mature child or adult may understand completely.  As I mentioned, the original rated R version had some profanity, but there is a PG-13 version, as that is easily edited out.  Most people who enjoy an engrossing drama, great acting, fabulous writing, or just want to see what all the fuss was about on Oscar night will enjoy this film.  I can't think of much to fault it on!  Tell me if you agree!

10/10

-Dani

The Social Network (2010)

I was actually a very prompt movie picker when I first saw this film, as it had at that time just been released to theatres, and I was excited to write about a film made about the beginnings of the social media monster we all know as Facebook.  Love it, or hate it, no one can deny the importance of our connections through the site, and how it has changed our lives, and even world events.  Whether this is for better, or not, remains to be seen.

After seeing it again, now on DVD, I was reminded all over again how much I really love this film, and though at first unsure whether it would withstand the test of time, I'm of the opinion now that thanks to its Oscar attention and the timelessness of its themes, it will remain an interesting story, and a beautiful film to watch.

Directed by David Fincher and starring Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, he plays the character as cold, quick witted, and utterly brilliant.  As such, he really isn't all that likeable, and we flinch as we watch him alienate his friends and fall into the trap of his ambitions.  But with such flaws and by making such mistakes, he is relatable, and we sympathize. 

Andrew Garfield, as Mark's friend, Eduardo, is probably my favorite character.  His style is interesting to me and very indicitive of the Harvard Economics student who co-founded Facebook with Mark.  Compared to Mark's sandaled feet and messy hair sticking out his hoodie, Eduardo is always put together and looking his best.  He strikes us from the start as the best sort of friend to have, and also one that Mark in particular needs, as he seems to have quite few due to his prickly personality. 

Second on my favorite characters list is Justin Timberlake as Napster founder, Sean Parker.  He is a breath of fresh air midway through the film, and really turns the film from its snide and dreary mood to one of movement.  Things are never the same after Sean Parker's arrival.  I love the intensity of the clash between his fresh ideas, Mark's growing greed, and Eduardo's slipping grip on the runaway idea which began in their Harvard dorm room, but would take them to California "where it's all happening", to their own office with investors backing Facebook and putting them on the fast track to being billionaires, and lastly to some ugly pre-trial hearings. 

That being said, this film is a bit lacking when it comes to its female characters having similar depth.  This seems to be a repetitive problem for David Fincher, as Fight Club, and Se7en both focus on male lead characters with women only playing back-up.  Though women in general (or should I say, dating them!) had a major influence on Facebook's founding, these girls remain accessories to the men in the film, and not real characters.  Some would even go so far as to call their portrayal sexist.  I think it's just more of a guy film. 

It's also a little off on its facts, from what I hear.  The biggest mistake, according to Mark Zuckerberg himself, being that movie-makers "can't wrap their head around the idea that someone might build something because they like building things."  - As opposed to doing it as revenge on a girl he failed miserably at dating. 

Facebook has more than 350 million active users, and is the second ranked site in the US, behind only Google.  Mark Zuckerberg, aged only 25, is considered the world's youngest billionaire, with Facebook estimated now to be worth $33 billion.  He didn't really invent anything that was very new, but he did improve what social networking could be, and he describes his contribution as more of a utility in people's lives, than just a website.  In a way, though, this film isn't really about any of that.  It's about wanting friends, as we all do, but ignoring the ones you have, and the effects, both positive, and negative, of taking a genius idea and actually making money with it.  In this we have a triumph and a tragedy.

8/10

-Dani