The King's Speech (2010)
What is it? An unlikely epic chronicling the efforts of the future King George VI (Colin Firth) to overcome his debilitating stutter, with the aid of his supportive wife (Helena Bonham-Carter) and unconventional speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). His struggle becomes more pressing when his elder brother abdicates the throne and World War II looms on the horizon...
Why did it win? It's really a very Oscar-friendly film: smart and moving script; great acting performances; period setting and beautiful production values. Amid some shockingly modern contenders, this was perhaps the choice with the widest appeal - and let's not forget that it's a film that has won fans even among those who hadn't been to a cinema in decades.
Did it deserve to win? In a strong year, you could make an equally good case for David Fincher's searing The Social Network, the Coen Brothers excellent True Grit, or the mighty Toy Story 3. Christopher Nolan's Inception was apparently overlooked as a blockbuster, which seems unfair given its artistry, while Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan could also have been a contender.
Worth a look? Certainly, unless you're a really violent anti-monarchist.
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