Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 12, 2011 ‘The Fighter,’ ‘The King’s Speech’ are stand-out films by Dennis Seuling In the flurry of December movie openings, two films deserve special mention. Since Villadom TIMES was on holiday hiatus when they opened, I wanted to be sure to put these exceptional pictures on your film radar. “The Fighter” may sound like just another boxing flick, but it is far more. It is based on real characters and incidents. Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is from working class Boston. His mother, Alice (Melissa Leo), serves as his manager, booking smalltime fights. His brother Dicky (Christian Bale) is a former fighter whose claim to fame is that he once fought Sugar Ray Leonard. Lately, Dicky is Mickey’s trainer when he is not getting high at the local crack house. After a particularly devastating fight, Mickey begins to evaluate his future. He also meets Charlene (Amy Adams) at a local bar, and the two hit it off. Charlene sees that Mickey has potential and is being held back by family members who regard him as nothing more than their chief breadwinner. This creates friction, as Charlene leads Mickey to weigh what’s best for him. Bale is absolutely sensational as ne’er-do-well Dicky, conveying his infuriating unreliability, devotion to his brother, and loyalty to family. Bale manages to elicit sympathy for a character who is inherently irresponsible. His gripping performance is a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Oscar nomination. Adams is seen here in a whole new light. Tough-talking, down to earth, and unafraid to speak her mind, her Charlene is far from the demure, ladylike roles she has played in the past. Charlene is the key to extricating Mickey from his destructive family. Wahlberg handles the fight scenes well and looks the part of a scrappy boxer. He is from the same area as Mickey Ward, so he understands the family’s mentality, parochialism, and mistrust of outsiders. Though overshadowed by the more flamboyant performance by costar Bale, Wahlberg is excellent. Leo (“Frozen River”) turns in a wonderful performance as Mickey’s mother/manager, a tough woman who looks as if she will deck you if she’s crossed and instills fear even in her grown children. She genuinely loves her kids and doesn’t recognize she is an impediment, not an asset, to their success. Director David O. Russell has made every scene sparkle. There are no dead spots and no unnecessary scenes. This is a lean, raw portrait of a person trying to find contentment despite overbearing family members who threaten to undermine his dreams. Years and an ocean apart from “The Fighter” is “The King’s Speech,” an outstanding look behind the secrets of British royalty. If King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), newly crowned after the death of his father, King George V, abdicates to marry divorced American socialite Wallace Simpson, his brother Bertie (Colin Firth) will become king. Bertie is terrified. He is a severe stutterer in the new era of microphones and radio, and England looks to their new king to rally and inspire them as war in Europe looms. Bertie has seen many speech therapists, but none has been able to help him. Enter Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), a thoroughly confident speech therapist who has worked successfully with shell-shocked World War I veterans, and is certain he can help the man who will be king, but Bertie must agree to certain ground rules. Bertie must come to his offices, there must be a feeling of informality, and Bertie must put his complete faith in Logue. The scenes between Firth and Rush are beautifully Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale in ‘The Fighter.’ 176 Ramapo Valley Road Oakland, NJ 201-337-8777 Hrs: Mon-Sat 7:00a,-9:00pm; Sun 7:00am-8:30pm FREE DELIVERY to Oakland and Franklin Lakes between the hours of 7am-3pm & 5pm-8pm with $10.00 minimum order. Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Pastry Extensive Menu $ On $10.00 and over, With this coupon only. 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The supporting cast of “The King’s Speech” features Derek Jacobi (Archbishop Cosmo Lang), Jennifer Ehle (Myrtle Logue), Claire Bloom (Queen Mary), and Michael Gambon (King George V). This is a story that could have been told as a dry documentary, but director Tom Hooper opens the doors to the inner lives of British royalty, exposing flaws and illustrating the responsibility a king feels to be a proper and respected leader to his people. Once again, look for Oscar nominations for both Firth and Rush. Acting doesn’t get much better than this. �� ����������������� ��������� Authentic Cuisine from Spain ������������������������ �������������������� K IRK E RS INN OPEN 7 DAYS • LUNCH • DINNER • COCKTAILS ����������������� Sauerbrauten • Schnitzels • Bavarian Sausages Goulash • Potato Pancakes • Dumplings Spaetzel and more. 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