Oscar winner regardless of jury.

Rating: Null/10 (25 January 2011)

An Oscar deserving picture because TKS is an important film unlike most candidates. Genuinely touching to the point of transforming the viewer as yet another on-screen speech coach and an extra moral crutch for "Bertie" to overcome his stammer and dread of public speaking.
_Everyone_, who's ever had a speech impediment, however small, or who's ever been afraid of public speaking, can relate to Bertie. If I'd have to take a wild guess, I'd figure that would include the majority of us. Even if you've managed to shed the impediment and kill the fear of public speaking altogether long since, Bertie's distress has a stupefying effect on _you as well_ even when experienced from a total comfort and safety zone of your own private place (where ever that might be).
This is essentially a one man show, despite fine performances by Rush and co. When Colin Firth goes into full-throttle mode, he is no longer acting but pure flesh and blood!
Apparently there have been some artistic liberties taken, but absolute historical accuracy really has very little to do with hmm... what is essentially a delayed coming-of-age story, now that I think of it. Weird, I know, but that's what it is.
Sure, TKS felt at points a bit forced as if the director was just realizing that he's gonna run out of time prematurely. That's what usually happens when the focus of the story is momentarily lost. Not that I've seen a perfect movie thus far...
Of course you should see "127 Hours" because of James Franco's performance, for comparison if not for anything else. But make no mistake: while fully entertaining, it's not an important film. At the end of the day "127 Hours", just like "Into the Wild", sanctifies stupidity.
Today's ideal is one of personal überhedonism. Morals are randomly lifted from authors of one's fancy. In our new dark ages Nietzsche okays shooting your classmates/coworkers in the back and yourself in the head. Where Smith absolves anyone from feeling guilt by making profit out of speculation, exploitation or mere thin air. And where Thoreauesque scramble back in the woods looks like a viable solution to any personal and global problem.
I don't want to go back to (pre-)WWII times, but I would like to see the comeback of some of the principles, some of the dignity and some of the comradeship we see in TKS and what I feel we are truly lacking these days. When I watched TKS I felt like most people in the film were real and worthy of my empathy. Seems like it's been years since I've felt the same way about fictional characters.
If that's not a mark of excellence, I don't know what is.