by Sam Juliano
Once again Samuel Wilson proves why his writing and his creativity are among the best in the blogosphere. Tackling The King’s Speech he joins a fraternity of WitD scribes in considering the film that most have now conceeded will be taking top honors later this month from the motion picture academy. Wilson starts off his extraordinary review by offering up a you tube recording of the real George speaking to Britons, and of asking the listener to negotiate the stutter. He then makes comparison to Emperor Hirohito and of that monarch’s own surrender over the airwaves, a speech that was also rife with rhetorical irregularities
In typical fashion, Wilson examines the artistic worth of the film, while still expressing a nagging reservation that all is not quite perfect, and an Oscar win still may not sit well with him. The essay deserves to sit alongside the best that have yet been written on this audience and critical favorite, a film that seems to reward repeated discussion. One of my favorite passages is this one: “The thing I’ll remember most about this film is its wallpaper — and I don’t mean that as an insult. Production designer Eve Stewart did an extraordinary job recreating period interiors, particularly the vividly bleak wallpaper in Lionel Logue’s office.” Wilson’s writing pulls you in from the start, when he uses the recorded voice (which has an amazing resemblence to Firth’s own voice in the film) and brings you into the world of this inspiring time in history, in an examination that weds art and history in a compelling way. Bravo, Samuel Wilson!
Here’s the full review at Mondo 70:
http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-big-screen-kings-speech-2010.html