Mark Logue Reveals the Real 'King's Speech'

Mark Logue never met his grandfather, but his legacy prefaced Mark's entire life. As the grandson of Lionel Logue, the speech therapist who helped George VI overcome a stammer (played by Geoffrey Rush in 'The King's Speech'), Mark is learning about his grandfather's crucial role in the King's life alongside moviegoers.

In 'The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy,' Mark and co-author, Peter Conradi, delve into Lionel's diaries and records to discover more about the relationship between the speech therapist and the King.

There may be incredible Oscar buzz surrounding the film, but Mark isn't convinced his grandfather would enjoy the spotlight. "If he were alive, I don't think the film would have ever been made. He was incredibly secretive and respectful of the Duke of York, well the King's privacy, that confidentiality," said Logue.

Sit down with PopEater and Mark Logue to examine the only physical copy of the King's Speech after the jump!

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Oscar Preview: Can 'King's Speech' Be Dethroned?

If the 83rd Academy Awards had been held a month ago, shortly after the critics groups had doled out their prizes and the final glasses of champagne had been drained at the Golden Globes, "The Social Network" would almost certainly have nabbed Oscar's Best Picture statue. After all, David Fincher's film about the salacious founding of Facebook hardly encountered a critics group it didn't woo and win over, before going on to earn four Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Drama. What could possibly stand between "Social Network" and the Academy's top honor?

As it turns out, another month. And another biopic, this one telling a story that begins some 80 years ago and resembling a far more traditional Oscar film than Fincher's exploration of youth and digital beauty. "The King's Speech" bounced back from its Globe defeats (it nabbed just one of seven nominations, with Colin Firth taking top dramatic actor) and secured important wins from the Producers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.

So much for creating a big tent with the inclusion of 10 Best Picture nominees. Like last year, we find ourselves watching a two-horse race that, at this point, might not be all that close. Kudos to "Toy Story 3," "Winter's Bone" and "Inception," but their nominations are kind of the equivalent of pity invites to a kid's birthday party: Sure, the birthday boy was forced to request the pleasure of your company, but he's not going to pretend you're anything more than a seat-filler. Our man Oscar holds the most exclusive birthday party in Hollywood, and its voters like it that way.

What's interesting this year is the nature of the two-horse race. In 2010, it came down to a decision between a populist fave in "Avatar" that made a gazillion dollars at the box office and a critics' darling in "The Hurt Locker" that maybe six people saw in the theater. Both "Social Network" and "King's Speech," meanwhile, have almost identical box-office grosses and high-90s ratings at the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator. The difference between the two is that "King's Speech" is the kind of film that could have been an Oscar nominee a decade ago — or a half-century ago — whereas "Social Network," in everything from story line to subtext to soundtrack, is directly plugged into 2011.

That's not to suggest "King's Speech" is some musty relic of yesteryear, nor that contemporary relevancy is a requirement for Oscar glory. The key, rather, is that the best film should win. And if you ask us, the finest film of the year is "Social Network." But as in so many years past — from how "Gladiator" bested "Traffic" to the way "Shakespeare in Love" beat out, well, geez, take your pick! — the best film of the year doesn't always receive that Oscar honor.

We can talk about momentum, we can indentify vital precursor wins, we can cite all manner of historical facts and we can lament fuddy-duddy voters. None of it seems to matter. On Sunday night, it appears, a very good film but hardly the year's best will win Best Picture. Let's offer our early congratulations to "The King's Speech."

Which Oscar contender should take Best Picture? Share your pick in the comments!

Will it be a regal evening for "The King's Speech"? Can "The Social Network" dial up Oscar gold? Don't miss MTV News' "2011 Oscars Live" at 6 p.m. Sunday, February 27, when we'll be chatting with your favorite Hollywood stars live from the red carpet on MTVNews.com, and stick with us all Oscar night for winners, interviews, photos and more!

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Doctors Look for Explanation to Serene Branson's Speech Problems

CBS Los Angeles reporter Serene Branson says that she is doing well and that her garbled speech during a live post-Grammys report was not the result of a medical problem, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Emmy-nominated reporter, whom viewers thought may have suffered a stroke or seizure when she became completely incoherent on the air, was immediately examined by paramedics but not hospitalized after the incident.

"The Episode Should Be Taken Seriously"

"This is what we call a class neurological event," Dr. Keith Black, director of the Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told NBC's 'Today' show. "She was obviously aware that she was having difficulty."

According to Black, Branson's episode was likely the result of a transient ischemic attack, essentially a "blockage in blood flow going to the brain," or a "mini-seizure located in the language area."

The New York Post also spoke to doctors who viewed the tape, and they said that Branson's garbled speech could have resulted from "aphasia, which affects the ability to articulate, and that it could have been brought on by a mini-stroke, a tumor or a circulatory issue."

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'The King's Speech' Dominates at the 2011 BAFTA Awards

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) are announcing their annual prize-winners at this very moment. Oddly, the presentation is on a tape-delay (even in the UK!) so you'll have to rely on us for the facts. Well, us and several great Brits on twitter. Thanks also to our pals at HitFix and IndieWire for being on the BAFTA ball!

A full list of all the winners resides beneath the jump, but some other noteworthy prize-getters include Helena Bonham Carter for 'The King's Speech,' Geoffrey Rush for 'The King's Speech,' Colin Firth for 'The King's Speech,' David Seidler ('The King's Speech') for Best Original Screenplay, and Natalie Portman ('Black Swan') for Best Actress because 'The King's Speech' didn't have a female lead.

Snark aside, congrats to all the winners and especially to the great (brave) comedy known as 'Four Lions,' which won "Outstanding British Debut" for writer/director Chris Morris.

Brace yourself for the shocking Best Picture winner...

Best Film
The King's Speech

Outstanding British Film
The King's Speech

Director
David Fincher - The Social Network

Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer
Chris Morris - Four Lions

Leading Actor
Colin Firth - The King's Speech

Leading Actress
Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Supporting Actor
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Supporting Actress
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech

Original Screenplay
The King's Speech - David Seidler

Adapted Screenplay
The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin

Film Not In The English Language
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Animated Film
Toy Story 3

Original Music
The King's Speech - Alexandre Desplat

Cinematography
True Grit - Roger Deakins

Editing
The Social Network - Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter

Production Design
Inception - Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, Doug Mowa

Costume Design
Alice in Wonderland - Colleen Atwood

Sound
Inception - Richard King, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A Rizzo, Ed Novick

Special Visual Effects
Inception - Corbould, Franklin, Lockley, Bebb

Make Up & Hair
Alice in Wonderland - Valli O'Reilly, Paul Gooch

Short Animation
The Eagleman Stag - Michael Pleas

Short Film
Until the River Runs Red - Paul Wright, Poss Kondeatis

Orange Wednesdays Rising Award
Tom Hardy

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