2 movies

The King's Speech is an amazing movie, and I don't use that word lightly. Colin Firth totally earned the Best Actor Oscar. His performance was as believable as Leonardo DiCaprio's in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?. That is to say, I could have easily believed that he had a stammer (or stutter, which ever is "correct"). The story was pretty interesting too. I'd never thought about the royal family as the voice of the UK. Of course, this makes a little sense considering that I'm American, but it's not the kind of thing you learn in school either. Ten years before George VI became king no one expected the king to be a public speaker in the way that he would need to be. And Lionel Logue gave the king his voice w/o any formal training or qualifications beyond experience. Very cool. I enjoyed this movie very much, and would recommend it to anyone.

I know, I know, enough already, right? ;) I've wanted to read the book Mao's Last Dancer for awhile now, and was delighted when I  saw this at the library last week. It is based on the story of Li Cunxin, who was chosen to go to Beijing to train at Madame Mao's dance academy (or whatever it was called) during the Cultural Revolution. He is a mediocre dancer and lacked passion until one of his teacher's is taken away, most likely to be "re-educated." After that sort of defining moment, Li becomes one of the best dancers at the school and catches the eye of an American ballet director who manages to get Li to go to Houston. It's an interesting story that unfolds and it was awesome to see the dancing; and it had a touching ending. I want to read the book even more now!