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litlover12We've got both British monarchs and American founding fathers today! Hopefully we can include them both in one post without starting a brawl.
10. The King's Speech (2010; dir. Tom Hooper; starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter)
What can I say about this one that I haven't already said? You've seen me raving about it for weeks now. (Note: It's the only film on this entire list that was made in the current century!) There are those among my acquaintances -- mostly those who thought The Social Network should win the Best Picture Oscar -- who say that The King's Speech is simply a nice little film that will soon be forgotten. I don't believe it for a second. I think this tale of friendship, love, and courage has the feel of a classic, that it will be remembered and loved for a very, very long time.
9. 1776 (1972; dir. Peter H. Hunt; starring William Daniels, Howard da Silva, Ken Howard)
A musical about the Declaration of Independence? Who thought that one up? A genius, that's who. 1776 works brilliantly on every level: as a history lesson, as a musical, as a drama, as a comedy, even as a romance. (Who knew those guys were so hungry to see their wives again?) And most of all, as the story of one man's stubborn determination to help create a new nation. William Daniels is simply, as his character John Adams would say, magnificent. It was his performance as the "obnoxious and disliked" founder that got me reading up on the real Adams, which helped make him my favorite Founding Father. Yes, I loved Adams before loving Adams was cool . . . and I think he just might have been proud of his portrayal here. Once he got used to the idea of a musical being made about him, that is.
I thought of posting one of the ensemble numbers so you'd get to see more of the actors, but I just have to go with this one. I love it so. If Adams's passion and vision here don't give you chills, your chiller ain't working right.
Tomorrow: Rear Window and The Sound of Music.
10. The King's Speech (2010; dir. Tom Hooper; starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter)
What can I say about this one that I haven't already said? You've seen me raving about it for weeks now. (Note: It's the only film on this entire list that was made in the current century!) There are those among my acquaintances -- mostly those who thought The Social Network should win the Best Picture Oscar -- who say that The King's Speech is simply a nice little film that will soon be forgotten. I don't believe it for a second. I think this tale of friendship, love, and courage has the feel of a classic, that it will be remembered and loved for a very, very long time.
9. 1776 (1972; dir. Peter H. Hunt; starring William Daniels, Howard da Silva, Ken Howard)
A musical about the Declaration of Independence? Who thought that one up? A genius, that's who. 1776 works brilliantly on every level: as a history lesson, as a musical, as a drama, as a comedy, even as a romance. (Who knew those guys were so hungry to see their wives again?) And most of all, as the story of one man's stubborn determination to help create a new nation. William Daniels is simply, as his character John Adams would say, magnificent. It was his performance as the "obnoxious and disliked" founder that got me reading up on the real Adams, which helped make him my favorite Founding Father. Yes, I loved Adams before loving Adams was cool . . . and I think he just might have been proud of his portrayal here. Once he got used to the idea of a musical being made about him, that is.
I thought of posting one of the ensemble numbers so you'd get to see more of the actors, but I just have to go with this one. I love it so. If Adams's passion and vision here don't give you chills, your chiller ain't working right.
Tomorrow: Rear Window and The Sound of Music.
