The King's Speech

There was a special screening of The King's Speech for the media at the Mall of the Emirates today as part of the Dubai International Film Festival, and I was lucky to be there.

TKS is the story of Prince Albert (Colin Firth), second son of King George V (Michael Gambon), and his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter). Albert was born with a speech impediment. He seeks help from an unconventional therapist named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).  When King George died, Albert's older brother David (Guy Pearce) ascended to the throne, only to abdicate so that he could marry a divorcee. This left Prince Albert in line to become King of England (George the VI). The Second World War was approaching and he had to speak to the nation.

This kind of film is not my cup of tea as I prefer action/comedy. But I should concede that TKS is gripping. A special pat to Firth and Rush.

Two lines I liked:
Dr Logue: Do you know any jokes?
King George: Timing isn't my strong suit. 

***Lilbet: What's he saying? (Watching a Hitler speech)

King George: I don't know but he seems to be saying it rather well.

A fun film

When I get bored, I turn to movies. And Wild Hogs turns out to be the best bet for people who look for humour. It is about four different professionals, including an IT man and a dentist, who take off a break from the rat race and hit the open road on a freewheeling motorcycle trip. They encounter a New Mexico gang called the Del Fuegos. Hilarious movie boss.
There’s particular scene where a village policeman suggests that the four go and slap a bull on its back. “That’s the way to know we do not live our lives in fear.”
When the first guy slaps the bull on its buttocks, it just ignores him.
Then the dialogue goes like this:
Dooble: Yeah, and we never seen it done twice in a row.
Stevens: What? Dooble: It'll be interesting to see how the bull takes being slapped now that he's alert.

Stevens, Dooble: Alert?
(You can visualize the fun)
Another dialogue I like:
Doug: Woody, sorry I said you had ego issues.

Woody: Sorry I said you were a pussy.

Doug: You didn't call me a pussy.

Stevens: Well, not to your face, but that's what I was thinking.
The cast includes John Travolta and Allen Wild.

Bonding with Bond

Dr No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger…
Three nights, three 007 movies at home. And I am waking up looking for my gun or the blonde trying to woo and kill me. Excellent actor, this Sean Connery… but why is it that I always like Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan as Bond! God knows.
A joke posted by my friend Sridhar:
“I believe James invests .007 per cent of his money in bonds.”

2 films and lost sleep

Being a journalist has its fringe benefits. Watched two films yesterday screened as part of the Dubai International Film Festival at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. “The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke, was quite good. The story about a professional wrestler Randy and the struggles and trauma he faces. He suffers a heart attack after a show and is forced to work in a grocery to pay bills. His estranged daughter refuses to accept him. His stripper girl friend plays truant. The doctor warns him against ever thinking to wrestling again. But at the last scene…now you watch the movie lest I take away the suspense. Mickey does his role quite well, and some scenes in the film were not for innocent teens like me (Though I enjoyed it, don’t tell anyone).

So after the movie, we rushed to the food court, gulped a “biryani” and returned to “watched” the next movie called “Appaloosa.”

This film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen is about two law-enforcers in a western town dominated by rancher Bragg (Jeremy Irons). The rural setting had a cowboy shade. Believe what I say. The stupid audience did not allow me to take a nap as most of them were snoring loudly.

Old is gold

Watched the 1998 film "Enemy of the State" last night.
What a movie boss... I love to hate Will Smith. That man made my cry while watching "Pursuit of Happyness. (Spelt that way in film if I am right)" And he acts so incredibly well, I will pat him 500 times if I happen to meet him somewhere in Dubai.
And Gene Hackman. What a screen presence!
A child of a broken home, Gene Hackman left home at 16 for a 3-year hitch. And where did he reach. The top. In Hollywood. Great guy. Global-Madrasi salutes you, GH.
Just a few dialogues I found fantastic in the film:

"You're either very smart or incredibly stupid."

"You were right, I was wrong, but this is not the time for the 'I told you so' speech."

"You live another day, I am very impressed."