Colin Firth & Geoffrey Rush - video from SBIFF

Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush have expressed during various press conferences and interviews about how their friendship bonded during the filming of The King's Speech so it was fun to see Colin present the Montecito Award to his pal Geoffrey at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The Montecito Award is given to a performer “who has given a series of classic and standout performances in his/her career.”

Happy reunion on the red carpet at the Oscars

Video: Geoffrey and cast of King's Speech honoured at SBIFF

Colin Firth presenting Montecito Award to Geoffrey Rush at SBIFF
(transcript of part of above video):
"Geoffrey was with us for only 4 weeks of a 7 week shoot. And the word somehow got around that I was inconsolable at his departure. And I would like to set the record straight on this matter. It is perfectly true that I had a moment of regret at the departure of a respected colleague, but there was nothing emotionally unstable about it. In fact the day after he abandoned us for his meaningless play in Australia, I strode off to the set with a huge smile on my face and the air of a man of ambition, brisk, and Tom Hooper, I saw him out of the corner of my eye, giving me an exasperatingly knowing look, and he said “I feel exactly the same way.” And I calmly inquired whether he wanted to get on with the bloody scene. And we had a joyless morning. And I went back to my trailer and bit into my blue grey popping quills (I have no idea what that means) and I noticed a strange pair of underpants, and the next thing was an unfamiliar pair of socks and they made a trail towards the bed in the trailer and then I noticed to my horror that there was someone sleeping in the bed. The blankets were pulled up, and I approached with trepidation and I peeled back the blankets and I shrieked like a school girl “It’s Geoffrey!” Or rather, someone had pasted Geoffrey’s face onto a mannequin. It was just some clever clogs’ idea of grief counseling. They thought it would help. And so never been one to let anything go to waste, I picked him up and propped him up at the little dining table in the trailer. And yet, I have to say, he proved a remarkably effective therapist during the ensuing weeks. He wasn't quite as animated as I was used to... He was a good listener and he was cheap."
source

Colin Firth & Carey Mulligan in My Fair Lady?

Just you wait Henry Higgins, just you wait... ♪♫♪

Okay, just a little bit excited with this latest rumour. Carey Mulligan has previously been mentioned as the front-runner for the role of Eliza Doolittle in the upcoming planned remake of My Fair Lady. (And according to some online articles, she IS attached to the film, barring any further complications with future film schedules?)

Colin (the ever regal, and now officially so) Firth had his name mentioned among others considered for the role of the curmudgeonly Professor Higgins and it seems that although top guns initially rejected him for the role, they are just as eager now to sign him up. Seems that Hugh Grant, at one time, favoured for the role, is now out?

I am trying not to get my hopes up that this pairing will actually happen but I have to say that I'm quite excited at the prospect of seeing Carey and Colin in the adaptation of Pygmalion.

What do you think?

Source: Hollywood.com
Read earlier updates on this remake

I was wondering about Carey Mulligan's singing voice... turns out that when she was younger, she wanted to be a musical actress and you can hear her sing in 'Write About Love'.

Videos: Colin Firth & The King's Speech on Oprah

Tom Hooper, Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth

appeared on Oprah's talk show on Monday, Feb.28th
following Sunday's triumph at the Oscars.

Watch video: Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush talk of their friendship

Watch video: Colin Firth and Tom Hooper - Backstage interview (Oprah)

Watch video: Geoffrey Rush - Backstage interview (Oprah)

Geoffrey Rush: "[Colin] did the most beautiful thing... when I arrived on the red carpet. I ran over and gave him a big hug and he took a 1946 King George VI shilling out of his pocket and gave it to me as a gift.

Cute anecdote from Tom Hooper (upon receiving BEST DIRECTOR at Oscars):
Tom says being up on stage was a blur but he did remember one thing—he forgot to email back Hilary Swank! He says when the actress came onto the stage to present the Best Director award, he suddenly remembered that she had sent him a nice email that he never responded to.
"When I got up on the stage, I kissed her hello and I told her I'm sorry and how much I loved the email and she said, 'I can't believe you're using the Kodak Theatre and winning the Oscar to tell me that."

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Colin Firth - Backstage interview at the 2011 Oscars

Posting this for anyone as obsessed as I am in hearing what Colin Firth had to say after his well-deserved win on Sunday night at the Academy Awards!

Colin's backstage interview at the 2011 Oscars...

Transcript of Colin's backstage interview
(some of it not shown in video above)

Q: The King’s Speech has taken up so much of your time in the last few months, I wonder now that you’ve won the Oscar, are you actually looking forward to taking a break from Bertie?
A: “Yeah, I am. Yeah, I’ve started having fantasies about what I’ll do, I’ll have to talk to you about. No, it’s lovely company. No, I think I’m going to cook a lot. I don’t think I’m particularly good at it but I’m going to inflict my cooking on anybody within range, but I tend to find that’s a very good way to decompress. I’ll probably be the only one eating it but that’s what I’m going to do.”

Q: What message do you think this story sends to people?
A: “I don’t believe in messages in what I do. I don’t think we’re preachers. I don’t think we’re philosophers. I personally happen to be an annoyingly outspoken person, but that’s not because I think the storytelling involves prescribing what people should think or hear, so I’m not in that business. What has struck me is the emotional response to it seems to be very, very personal. It’s quite diverse. Quite obviously speech therapists and people who have difficulties with their speech of whatever kind, have responded to it, and that is very powerful to me to be on the receiving end of that kind of feedback because what we do is very often, it’s justifiably judged as completely and utterly frivolous. I think frivolity is also very important. That’s a whole other argument.

But the fact is that it overlaps with something that has connected with or resonated with people who’ve, you know, feel they’ve been heard about something for the first time. It’s probably the most valuable thing of all to me. I don’t think it sent a message. I just think maybe it shines a light on something which badly needed it.”

Q: Why do you not support it [cutting the film to be PG-13]?
A: “Because I think the film has its integrity as it stands. I think that scene belongs where it is. I think it serves a purpose. I’m not someone who is casual about that kind of language. I don’t relish I take my children to see football games, soccer. And I wouldn’t be able to, if I wanted to protect them from those kind of words at the expense of all else. I hate hearing that language around them, but I’m not going to deny them an experience of a live game. You know, it does distress me to, you know, to hear that language bawled in the ears of my kids. So I don’t take that stuff lightly. But the context of this film could not be more edifying, more appropriate. It’s not vicious. It’s not to do insult or it’s not in any of the context which might offend people, really.
It’s about a man trying to free himself through the use of forbidden words, and he’s so coy about it. I mean, I just can’t I still haven’t met the person who would object to it. So I think the film should stand as it is.”

Q: Re: Hooper’s choice of lenses, the way he placed you in the frame helped you create the feeling of isolation that you got?
A: “In some ways, the way of working was conducive to the kind of tension and anxiety that I needed to draw from for it. The very first thing that Tom shot on me was a single shot of me in the first scene where Bertie meets Logue. That’s kind of baptism by fire in a story like this. Normally, you would kick off with something easy like walking down a corridor or getting out of a car and then the crew will get to know each other and once we’re all safely in the zone, then you can start to get into the more serious stuff, and then you might eventually start with a wide master shot with two actors, three actors. And you’ll know that that you’re establishing the scene first, the critical stuff.

The stuff on your face, most of that, is not going to play on this shot. So you get a chance, it’s like a rehearsal. Tom didn’t do any of that. He decided to take a ten minute scene which was basically a three act play and said kick off on my face. And there is nothing for it but to commit. And I think he made a very, very good decision, not just for me, but for him, where we thought, “Okay, you know, you don’t have much time in film, I think, has a misperception that you try and try again until you get it right and you can keep doing it.”

That’s not how it works. You get three goes, four. It’s expensive. You know, it goes into the can and you move on. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t really nailed it. This is like a feeling of being pushed out in the royal upper house and told to sing on the first night without much rehearsal and you just have to dig for whatever you can. And then, I think it was very good because I put both feet in and so did he and he committed to a style he wasn’t quite sure about yet. He still had a few options open, but after we completed that day which could have ended up being about ten percent of our entire film, he realized he had committed to a cinematographic style. And I had committed to my approach and to be squeezed down in the corner of a sofa and Tom kept telling me to shrink myself physically because I’m much bigger than George VI. He was very slight and he had a famous small disposition.

So Tom’s note to me was, ‘Try to disappear as much as possible.’ And I think that’s partly why he put me on the edge of the big sofa and part of why he put me on the edge of the frame, surrounded me by what he thought was negative space. And I could feel all that going on and so it definitely informed what I did."

Transcript: Indiewire

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Colin Firth - BAFTA: A Life in Pictures

I was excited to find this particular interview with Colin Firth since I've enjoyed the interviews I've previously viewed as part of BAFTA's series "Life in Pictures". A half hour well spent!

From BAFTA's site (December 7, 2010):
"[Colin] describes the 'completely uncomplicated satisfaction' involved in making films such as Mamma Mia!, as well as the awe with which he perceives his films' writers. He also discusses the 'baggage' of being associated with Darcy, and considers the irony of having forged a career playing middle and upper class characters after his Secondary Modern schooling."

Here's a 5 minute excerpt but you can
watch the 30 minute interview in its entirety on BAFTA's website!

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The King's Speech reigns at the Oscars!

Congratulations to THE KING'S SPEECH!

Winner of 4 Academy Awards:
BEST PICTURE
BEST ACTOR (Colin Firth)
BEST DIRECTOR (Tom Hooper)
BEST SCREENPLAY (David Seidler)

Colin Firth

Firth and Tom Hooper

David Seidler

Livia said on her blog: "We're off! Here's the Gary Harvey dress... This is the first picture for you. I'll explain the corsetry/engineering and everything else as we go... Eleven dresses in one, vintage/thrift/charity shop buys all from the era of The King's Speech. Every part is recycled, repurposed, upcycled. It feels amazing (corset not withstanding!). Colin, I think, looks incredibly handsome. "

Colin Firth's entire Oscar acceptance speech

Photos: Access Hollywood, Livia's blog, The Guardian, Winnipeg Sun

Colin Firth - press images for The King's Speech

Looking forward to Sunday's broadcast of The Oscars and Mr. Colin Firth's anticipated crowning as Best Actor for his role in The King's Speech! I'm tickled that the film has received such acclaim and I'm eager to see how the film will fare in its 12 nominated categories! I'll be preparing for the event by attending a screening in the afternoon after having found someone who's not yet seen the film and eager to go with me!

Here are some images from the film's premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival which was attended by Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and director Tom Hooper.

Here's a BBC interview done with Helena and Colin (1/7/2011)

Photos: Zimbio

Fan video: The King's Speech

Countdown to Colin Firth's Oscar?

Just found this fan video which captured some of the most touching scenes from The King's Speech.

Thanks to MovieMadd111 for creating the video!
Music: "If It Be Your Will" sung by Antony Hegarty

Images from Pride & Prejudice (1995)

Here are just a sample of images from 1995's Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle that Sharona has graciously posted in her gallery at Period Films. Thanks Sharona!

The King's Speech reigns at the BAFTA's!

The King's Speech took home 7 BAFTA Awards: Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Actor (Colin Andrew Firth), Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), Original Screenplay (David Seidler), & Original Music (Alexandre Desplat)!

Colin Firth's acceptance speech

Helena Bonham Carter's acceptance speech

Watch video: Helena Bonham Carter on red carpet at BAFTA

Watch video: Tom Hooper on red carpet at BAFTA

Interviews from Oscar Luncheon...

"Stoker" with Mia, Firth & Kidman?

Watching the Oscar Roundtable discussion which included Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, I was thinking that it would be great to see the two of them in a film together. If current talks proceed, it looks like that just might happen! The LA Times reports that Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth are negotiating to join the film, which already has Mia Wasikowska confirmed for the leading role.

Colin Firth, Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman

Update (Mar 7): The role of the uncle initially only described as "enigmatic" now turns out to be a vampire? Guess the name Stoker did imply Bram Stoker's Dracula after all?!
Update (Mar 8): Wentworth Miller has denied in earlier interview at Comic-con that it's a tale of vampires:
“It’s not easy to describe. It’s a horror film, a family drama and a psychological thriller, all wrapped up in one. The jumping off point is actually Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt. So, that’s where we begin, and then we take it in a very, very different direction.”
and (Mar. 10): "It's got a lot of elements of the Dracula mythology in its story... It's not a vampire story. It's not about vampires at least with the teeth and the desire to suck your blood but it is a thriller and it is about an individual who preys on the innocent."

Based on a screenplay by Wentworth Miller (pen-name Ted Foulke)
To be directed by Park Chan-Wook.

“Stoker” is described as a fantastical, fairy-tale like family drama that follows the story of an eccentric teen, India (Wasikowska), whose enigmatic and estranged uncle returns to the family after the death of the girl’s father. People, however, start to go missing in her hometown at the same time and she soon discovers that her uncle may be the cause. Kidman would play India’s mother, and Firth would take on the part of the uncle.

Filming is planned for this spring.
(Colin Firth is still committed to 'Gambit' with Cameron Diaz which would likely shoot after Stoker.)

Source: Playlist, LATimes

Guessing that the rumour mill has jumped the gun?
Waiting to hear full details of film from credible source...

Tom Hooper hoping to work with Colin Firth again

Tom Hooper and Colin Firth are apparently both intent on finding a joint film project so they can work together again after their shared experience in The King's Speech.

3 Amigos: Tom Hooper, Colin Firth & Geoffrey Rush

Hooper has said of Firth, "It’s all about the work. He’s very, very bright and he’s very good on script and story and structure. I could talk to him about anything, any aspect of the storytelling. And I love it when actors become true collaborators on the mission of the storytelling, not just what they’re doing as a character. It makes it very exciting.”

Video montage of Tom Hooper's films
Interview with Tom Hooper

BAFTA Awards - to be handed out on Sunday night

The King's Speech might be the first film to win both Best Film and outstanding British Film at BAFTA.

"The last time a British film got 14 nominations at the BAFTAs, it ended up winning just two awards -- although one was for best film.

With hometown advantage and a clear lead in the nominations, "The King's Speech" looks poised for a coronation at the Royal Opera House on Feb. 13. But "Atonement's" [performance] is a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted until the very last envelope has been opened.

BAFTA likes to celebrate British success, but not too much. Academy members pride themselves on being part of a wider international film community with a sophisticated appreciation for the best America and the rest of Europe have to offer..." Read entire article by Adam Dawtrey @ Variety

Livia Firth, shown on right posing with Nina Skarra, the designer whose dress she will be wearing on Sunday evening as she escorts her husband Colin to accept his trophy, we hope! Photo: Vogue

I'm also pleased to see that Inception and director Chris Nolan are nominated in their categories!

Gemma Arterton is nominated for Rising Star Award
Watch her BAFTA video interview

Here are some of the nominations for BAFTA awards to be handed out February 13th! (Winners in BOLD)

ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE

OUTSTANDING BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA
THE HARRY POTTER FILMS

BEST FILM
BLACK SWAN - Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver, Scott Franklin
INCEPTION - Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan
THE KING’S SPEECH - Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
THE SOCIAL NETWORK - Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, Céan Chaffin
TRUE GRIT - Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
127 HOURS - Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy, Christian Colson, John Smithson
ANOTHER YEAR - Mike Leigh, Georgina Lowe
FOUR LIONS - Chris Morris, Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Mark Herbert, Derrin Schlesinger
THE KING’S SPEECH - Tom Hooper, David Seidler, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
MADE IN DAGENHAM - Nigel Cole, William Ivory, Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley

DIRECTOR
127 HOURS - Danny Boyle
BLACK SWAN - Darren Aronofsky
INCEPTION - Christopher Nolan
THE KING’S SPEECH - Tom Hooper
THE SOCIAL NETWORK - David Fincher

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
BLACK SWAN - Mark Heyman, Andrés Heinz, John McLaughlin
THE FIGHTER - Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson
INCEPTION - Christopher Nolan
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT - Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
THE KING’S SPEECH - David Seidler

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 HOURS - Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel
THE SOCIAL NETWORK - Aaron Sorkin
TOY STORY 3 - Michael Arndt
TRUE GRIT - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

LEADING ACTOR
JAVIER BARDEM - Biutiful
JEFF BRIDGES - True Grit
JESSE EISENBERG - The Social Network
COLIN FIRTH - The King’s Speech
JAMES FRANCO - 127 Hours

LEADING ACTRESS
ANNETTE BENING - The Kids Are All Right
JULIANNE MOORE - The Kids Are All Right
NATALIE PORTMAN - Black Swan
NOOMI RAPACE - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
HAILEE STEINFELD - True Grit

SUPPORTING ACTOR
CHRISTIAN BALE - The Fighter
ANDREW GARFIELD - The Social Network
PETE POSTLETHWAITE - The Town
MARK RUFFALO - The Kids Are All Right
GEOFFREY RUSH - The King’s Speech

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS - The Fighter
HELENA BONHAM CARTER - The King’s Speech
BARBARA HERSHEY - Black Swan
LESLEY MANVILLE - Another Year
MIRANDA RICHARDSON - Made in Dagenham

ORIGINAL MUSIC
127 HOURS - AR Rahman
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Danny Elfman
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - John Powell
INCEPTION - Hans Zimmer
THE KING’S SPEECH - Alexandre Desplat

CINEMATOGRAPHY
127 HOURS - Anthony Dod Mantle, Enrique Chediak
BLACK SWAN - Matthew Libatique
INCEPTION - Wally Pfister
THE KING’S SPEECH - Danny Cohen
TRUE GRIT - Roger Deakins

EDITING
127 HOURS - Jon Harris
BLACK SWAN - Andrew Weisblum
INCEPTION - Lee Smith
THE KING’S SPEECH - Tariq Anwar
THE SOCIAL NETWORK - Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter

PRODUCTION DESIGN
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Robert Stromberg, Karen O’Hara
BLACK SWAN - Thérèse DePrez, Tora Peterson
INCEPTION - Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, Doug Mowat
THE KING’S SPEECH - Eve Stewart, Judy Farr
TRUE GRIT - Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh

COSTUME DESIGN
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Colleen Atwood
BLACK SWAN - Amy Westcott
THE KING’S SPEECH - Jenny Beavan
MADE IN DAGENHAM - Louise Stjernsward
TRUE GRIT - Mary Zophres

SOUND
127 HOURS - Glenn Freemantle, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Steven C Laneri, Douglas Cameron
BLACK SWAN - Ken Ishii, Craig Henighan, Dominick Tavella
INCEPTION - Richard King, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A Rizzo, Ed Novick
THE KING’S SPEECH - John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen
TRUE GRIT - Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, Peter F Kurland, Douglas Axtell

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Sean Phillips, Carey Villegas
BLACK SWAN - Dan Schrecker
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 - Tim Burke, John Richardson, Nicolas Aithadi, Christian Manz
INCEPTION - Chris Corbould, Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Peter Bebb
TOY STORY 3 - Guido Quaroni, Michael Fong, David Ryu

MAKE UP & HAIR
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Valli O'Reilly, Paul Gooch
BLACK SWAN - Judy Chin, Geordie Sheffer
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 - Amanda Knight, Lisa Tomblin, Nick Dudman
THE KING’S SPEECH - Frances Hannon
MADE IN DAGENHAM - Lizzie Yianni Georgiou

ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR AWARD
GEMMA ARTERTON
ANDREW GARFIELD
TOM HARDY
AARON JOHNSON
EMMA STONE

BAFTA Website

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011)

Many familiar faces from period drama can be found in this remake of John Le Carré's 1974 British spy novel with Gary Oldman taking on role of George Smiley (previously played by Alec Guiness).

Synopsis:
Set in the 1970s, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy finds George Smiley, a recently retired MI6 agent, doing his best to adjust to a life outside the secret service. However, when a disgraced agent reappears with information concerning a mole at the heart of the Circus, Smiley is drawn back into the murky field of espionage.

Tasked with investigating which of his trusted former colleagues has chosen to betray him and their country, Smiley narrows his search to four suspects—all experienced, urbane, successful agents—but past histories, rivalries and friendships make it far from easy to pinpoint the man who is eating away at the heart of the British establishment.

Colin Firth - Bill Haydon (Tailor)
Benedict Cumberbatch - Peter Guillam
Mark Strong - Jim Prideaux
Tom Hardy - Ricki Tarr
Ciarán Hinds - Roy Bland (Soldier)
Toby Jones - Percy Alleline (Tinker)

Note: Michael Fassbender, Ralph Fiennes and Jared Harris
were previously mentioned as part of cast but are not in film.

IMDb - release date listed Sept 16, 2011 (UK)

The King's Speech Receives Royal Approval!

From The Telegraph:
The Queen is said to have given her blessing to the Oscar-nominated film The King's Speech after watching it in a private screening.

The movie portrays her father King George VI's battle against his speech impediment and also features a young Princess Elizabeth. The Queen was given a private screening of the film in Sandringham and sources have said she found the portrayal "moving".

Screenwriter David Seidler, who was asked by the Queen Mother to delay writing the script, said approval from the Queen was the ultimate honour.

"When her mother asked me 30 years ago to wait, because the memory of these events were still too painful, I understood the intense feelings that were involved," he said. "And now that the film has been written and made with love, and respect, and admiration, the fact that Her Majesty has recognised this is incredibly and wonderfully gratifying."

The Weinstein Company said:
“On behalf of the director Tom Hooper; the producers, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin; Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and our entire ensemble cast: we are deeply honored and humbled by Her Majesty’s appreciation of the film,” Harvey Weinstein said in a statement Friday. “It was a labor of love for all of us and this is high praise, indeed.”

I'm so pleased for Seidler and director Tom Hooper who have laboured so long for this film,
attempting to due the story justice and now to know that the Queen approves their efforts!

Photo of Seidler: Alberto E. Rodriguez

More on THE KING'S SPEECH