Could a feel-good film about two middle-aged men working through a speech defect in early 20th-century England be a likely candidate to win the top awards of the movie industry? Even when it was pitted against the crisply plotted tale of the bitter rise of the world’s youngest billionaire and his ubiquitous website? Or a riveting thriller about a ballerina discovering her dark side?
The judges of the 83rd Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, certainly seemed to think it could. On Sunday night, in Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, they presented The King’s Speech with not only the Best Motion Picture award but also those for Best Actor (Colin Firth) and Best Director (Tom Hooper).
The narrative of a future king of England afflicted by a stutter and his Australian speech therapist beat out the likes of The Social Network and Black Swan, despite some critics calling Mr. Hooper’s film the "latest manifestation of British narcissism". The only top award that it missed out on was Best Actress, which went to an emotional Natalie Portman for her electrifying portrayal of a troubled ballerina in Black Swan.
While the highly acclaimed performances of Mr. Firth, as King George VI, and Geoffrey Rush, as his witty therapist with a disdain for propriety, may have well swayed the Academy judges panel, the talent of some of the leading presenters on awards night was however questionable.
The evening was principally hosted by James Franco of Spiderman fame and Anne Hathaway, who made a name for herself in The Devil Wears Prada – yet their combined total of flat jokes and hysterical outbursts, respectively, might well have set a new record.
A first for expletives
When one of the award winners, Melissa Leo for Best Supporting Actress, dropped a four-letter expletive on live television, it was definitely the last straw. Christian Bale, who won Best Supporting Actor for his role alongside Ms. Leo in The Fighter, didn’t help matters when he trooped up looking like Gandalf, in a ratty looking reddish beard, and threw in a few minor expletives too.
Yet the evening was saved by the genuine warmth and good humour of some of the awardees themselves, including David Seidler, winner of Best Original Screenplay for The King’s Speech.
Mr. Seidler (74), himself a childhood stutterer and cancer survivor quipped, “My father always said I’d be a late bloomer.” Almost every other award-winner associated with The King’s Speech praised Mr. Seidler’s inspirational role in bringing the film to fruition.
India’s own son, A.R. Rahman also teamed up with British singer Florence Welch to supply a most soulful rendition of "If I Rise" from the soundtrack of 127 Hours. For his score, performed with mega star Dido in the original film, Mr. Rahman was nominated for both Best Song and Best Original Score. Unfortunately he won neither, with the awards respectively going to those behind Toy Story 3 and The Social Network.
The Franco-Hathaway flop notwithstanding, there was still much to cheer for at the awards ceremony, including the expected dazzling array of evening gowns and high-caliber tuxedos. Cate Blanchet wore Givenchy, Scarlett Johansson was draped in a fuchsia lace Dolce and Gabbana number and Justin Timberlake, whose date for the evening was his mother, admitted to wearing a tailored Tom Ford suit.
At the end of the evening all the hullaballoo of the awards came down to good, solid maternal influence. Tom Hooper, award-winning Director of The King’s Speech, summed it up well when he said in his acceptance speech that it was his mother who first spotted the potential for his movie and persuaded him of it, saying, "So the moral of the story is, ‘Always listen to your mother’."
