Films That Start With The

Being comfortable in your own skin seems to be a wonderfully superfluous link running very skimpily between several films I have seen in the last week. Now you know it’s always my intention for this blog to draw a chuckle –I think I may have hit the ridiculous tea splutter nail firmly on the head with this one.
So here goes, two films that are linked by more than Australian general release dates. Honestly.

On the surface, Angelina and Johnny are beautiful and seeing as going to the pictures is much about looking at things – one would imagine this is a sure fire ‘looking at’ winner. I think if The Tourist was say, a calendar, twelve beautiful images curated so one can cope with them for roughly thirty days whilst bearing a passing resemblance to the months they preside over, it would fulfil some purpose. I have taken the liberty of drawing the two major problems out, in spite of the general prettiness and that.

Firstly, Ange & Johnny don't really want to do each other. Now, this is a problem on several levels. Sexy sex is not always necessary in a romcom – Look at Romeo and his Juliet, we never saw them doing it, but the tantalising lark/nightingale quip was enough to make us feel the sexual tension. The ‘I do not want you to leave my bed’ clause is not a problem for Johnny, as he’s not invited in. They look more like they are playing with the idea of being something other than pretty and can’t be bothered to invest in steely gazes or genuinely fancy le (silk) pants of each other.

Secondly, twists. With a twist, one should have an idea one is coming, or not at all. I almost missed it in this one – all on screen looked so thoroughly ready to go home by that point. I hope someone involved is ravaged by a container full of Twister ice lollies angry at their wasted investment. There now, a film in which Johnny and Ange fight a container full of Twisters may have some mileage.

The King’s Speech is an account of a very personal demon juxtaposed with a huge moment in the world’s history. Albert is comfortable in his own skin, trusting that situation shouldn’t take an unexpected change. I would imagine most people watching would know it does take him down an alternative route – not least from reading the film blurb – or most from having paid an iota of attention in GSCE history. How those on screen come to know themselves is great to watch, the sense of obligation, that one will have a role, and some of it will be through situation, some through personal choice and some will be prophesy making good. You tell a child they’re something they will often be it, or take it to adulthood unthinkingly – in the simplest terms. You are this, you cannot be that, and we know you best. And ol’ Albert (King George VI) had one crazy upbringing. His brother was locked away and died at thirteen for starters.

Some of the beautiful moments are watching how one responds to a situation they never expected to be in. (A bit like Ange and Johnny? Where the heck are we? Can we play with these boats? Yay! A Russian!) Lionel (Geoffrey Rush) never expected to coach the King, Albert never expected to have any friends.

Colin Firth is wonderful, and Helena Bonham Carter steals it. It’s generally a beautiful thing apart from there is maybe a bit too much skin/face time for the big screen. There are moments where it mirrors a Clearasil advert, or worse a facelift clinic, the before to The Tourist’s after. But then we all prefer a chip in our porcelain, it lends personality.

Since I wrote this the Golden Globes happened: I’m the only one constructively criticising then, best joke of the night though Ricky - it was almost topical!