I'm a sucker for period movies, especially those with English accents and even more so, those staring Colin Firth. So what happens when an English accent of character played by Firth in a period film is accompanied by a stammer? That is the story of
The King's Speech which opens November 26th. Prince George, The Duke of York was second in line to the throne behind his brother so his stammer wouldn't really have been as big of a problem had his brother not abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. (Madonna is making a film about that story.) After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne as King George VI. Because his stutter has called into question his ability to rule, he and Elizabeth I engage the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. "Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war." George VI and Elizabeth are the parents of reigning Queen Elizabeth II and it will be interesting to see her childhood during the war. There are already rumors that this film will earn Colin Firth an Oscar just as
The Queen earned Helen Mirren her statue. I think it's safe to say that The Academy is also a sucker for an English accent.
One reviewer of the Italian film Io sono l'amore (I Am Love in English) declared "see it by any means possible" and after viewing the trailer, I am terribly upset that I won't be able to see it until it's released in the US on June 18th! The story centers on a wealthy Italian family and their resulting reactions to their patriarch's decision to split his company between his son and grandson. Add in a little adultery, gorgeous cinematography and fabulous fashions (designed by Raf Simons for Jil Sander) and you've got yourself some serious aesthetic overload. I Am Love stars Tilda Swinton playing a Russian woman in Italy which has her speaking Italian with a Russian accent. If that doesn't have Oscar nomination written all over it, I don't know what does! Oh, and it also stars Marisa Berenson who looks like she's channeling Nati Abascal! It's beyond chic! I insist that you watch the trailer so you'll know why I'm so excited for this film. Ciao!
