Movie Review: The King's Speech

The fact that I nodded off a few times in this movie is absolutely no reflection on how good it was (the 3/4 of it that I saw).  Quite simply, I saw it on Boxing Day after two weeks of long past midnight bedtimes, I was shattered.  My sleep bank was completely empty and before I knew it the comfort of our local had lulled me to sleep, a couple of times. 

Image from Hollywood News

 What I do recall is Colin Firth was brilliant as the shy, stuttering King.  I hope he cleans up in award season (he's already won the Critics Choice)!  Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal of a strong and kind Queen Elizabeth was wonderful.  Of course completing the triumvirate is Geoffrey Rush who was marvelous as Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue.  His character felt a little bit overacted sometimes, but only a pinch.  An interesting tit bit of history (I didn't know George VI had a stammer) captured and played out perfectly.  A very comfortable 4 out of 5.

Please Give

The clean-up is only just beginning after the devastating floods in QLD so if you haven't yet had a chance to give here are some ways you can - over the phone or by bank transfer on the QLD gov website here or on QLD Premier's site here

Give in person at any of these places - Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, ANZ, BOQ, Suncorp, St. George Bank, Bank SA, Australian Central Credit Union, Savings & Loans Credit Union, Bank West, Australia Post and Coles supermarkets.

There have been so many terrifying images in the news since the floods first broke up north so I wanted to share a couple that felt hopeful and reminded me of what I most like about being Australian.

Image from this blog here.

Image from this blog here.

Image from the Herald Sun.

Image from ABC News.

Oh and I just have one last word, Anna Bligh for PM.

Movie Review: The Tourist

For all the hype this movie received, I found it so disappointing.

The storyline was flimsy and the action mildly entertaining at best. The "bad guys" where the type of caricatures we've come to scoff at when we watch back old James Bond movies. Angelina was exquisite but dull as she purred her way from scene to scene. If character actor extraordinaire Johnny Depp can't breathe life into someone, no one can. And FYI, I don't know why Vanessa Paradis was worried about the chemisty between her husband and femme fatale Angelina? There was none.

I give it a 2 out of 5.

Image from moviepostershop.