Milwaukee has some great movie theatres. There is the Rosebud, on North, where you can have a pizza, a glass of wine and watch a movie from the comfort of your very own couch. There is the ornate and magnificent Oriental on Farwell Avenue. And there is the Downer on, well, Downer.
This weekend, Jim and I spent quite a lot of time at the Downer catching up on a couple of movies we wanted to see. On Friday night we headed to the eastside and had dinner at a very busy Café Hollander. We finished our meal just in time to catch the 7:30 showing of Rabbit Hole.
Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart as grief stricken parents, picks up 8 months after the death of their four year old son. It is a devastating look at grief as these individuals deal with death in different ways and at the same time try desperately to stay connected as a couple.
The movie itself is beautiful. The scenes echo Kidman’s aloof, haunting beauty. As Becca, she is reserved and distant as she tries to maintain control over her uncontrollable sadness.
The most intriguing part of this movie, for me, is the relationship Becca strikes up with the teenage boy responsible for her son’s death. Painful to watch, as one can only imagine the guilt this boy feels, Becca manages to lean into him and support him at the same time. Ultimately, the relationship brings a little comfort and some ease back into both their lives. This movie will make you weep, however, it also manages to illuminate the dawn, when grief breaks, just a little.
On Saturday night we headed back to the Downer for the 7:00 showing of The King’s Speech. The King’s Speech is exactly the kind of movie which makes movie going so much fun. It is clever, funny, entertaining and even educational.
The movie is about Albert, the Duke of York, affectionately known as Bertie by the royal family. Bertie, the second son of King George V, played by Colin Firth, suffers from a debilitating speech impediment. Listening to him speak is hard and uncomfortable. His wife, played by Helena Bonham Carter, supports Bertie by taking him to see various speech doctors. Nothing works, not even the marbles. Finally, she stumbles upon Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, and the story takes off.
The relationship between Bertie and Logue is hilarious. Logue’s antics and techniques try the patience of the reserved aristocrat. However, in spite of, or perhaps because of these very antics their friendship grows and they develop a deep respect for each other.
The climax of this movie occurs when Bertie’s brother, the King, abdicates and scandalously marries an American divorcee. Bertie unwillingly takes over the throne. Now as King George VI (father of present day Queen Elizabeth), Bertie has to address the British Empire as England declares war on Hitler’s Germany.
This is a touching and heartwarming look back into history. You won’t regret this 118 minutes.
