5/5 Stars
When Pride & Prejudice appeared on my high school reading list – I devoured it like a my life depended on it. And I bought a DVD version of the book sight unseen because I’d heard good things – a 5 hour adaptation of the text produced by the BBC in 1995.
Caution: May induce swooning
I ripped open the package & plopped down one Sunday afternoon: and I was in love. Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy for me might as well have been borderline pornographic. Ask any girl who’s into P&P… Words don’t do it justice – but his performance just smolders.
Over the years he has become more mainstream in American cinema – he hasn’t necessarily made the best film choices (he’s admitted it himself) but after great recognition for his work in films like A Single Man – my longstanding love for Colin Firth was finally justified on Sunday night.
The film The King’s Speech finally provided him the vehicle that earned him Best Actor at the Golden Globes (and my hope is that he’ll be rewarded much the same way come Oscar season.)
The King’s Speech is a British historical drama about King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth – and his struggle to overcome a stammer that threatens his image at a time when radio and film bring the monarchy off the printed page and into the homes of their subjects.
Firth plays George VI, aka Bertie or Prince Albert opposite the incredibly talented Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue, his speech therapist. The pair have a great onscreen chemistry, culminating in the final minutes of the film as the king must give a speech to declare war on Germany after only 40 minutes to rehearse. Firth’s portrayal of George VI is incredibly deep and believable. The slight speech impediment, the painful stammer – it all feels so real. Firth has a moment where he cracks and shares uncomfortable childhood memories that shaped his closed personality – and its just captivating.
Am I sad that he stammered his way to a major award? … a little.
But I’m extremely happy for him at the same time – so it’s all good.
Newsflash: Aging Happens!
(Also a weird moment – seeing Jennifer Ehle (who was a lovely & lovable Elizabeth to Firth’s Darcy in P&P — playing Logue’s wife ) onscreen together with Firth for about 12 seconds… basically: Darcy & Elizabeth go all middle-aged on me and my head spins…)
