Public Speaking and Related Movies

8/3/2019 Public Speaking and Related Movies

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Public Speaking and related movies

Posted onOctober 9, 2011byspeakinpublic

As the title of the blog suggests,Public Speaking is one of my passions. Therefore any movie

that has at least an innuendo on this subject gets extra points from me. There are two categoriesof movies that I want to mention: those thatIve seen and thoseI want to see. I will start with

the first category.

Movies I can talk about (from experience)

1. Lary Crowne (2011)(imdbofficial sitetrailer)

What do you get from this romantic movie with Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks? A bit of laughter(or more depending on the taste), a happy-ending and why not some motivation to get yourself

together and start over with your life. Youre never too old to learn says BElla (one of the

characters of the movie) and I completely agree with that statement. Another quote comes fromthe main characterLary Crowne (Tom Hanks character) : Dont be fool, stay in school.

But wait, whats the connection with Public Speaking? Speech 217: The Art of InformalRemarksits the course thought by Mercedes Tainot (the character played by July Roberts)

a course that will change your life.

From a Public Speaking perspective you can see:

a physical warm-up exercise intended to reduce the fear before your performance and inthe same time prepare your voice.

the practice of Visual Contact with three points in different parts of the room left,center, rightcovering the entire audience.

usage of humor in a speech. a funny debate.
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2/8

2. The Kings Speech(imdbofficial sitetrailer)

There are so many things to be learned from this movie. Among the reasons that you should see

it are: Colin Firth, The Academy Awards, The Golden Globe Award, the 8.3imdbscore andfinally the fact that I gave it a 10 out of 10 rating.

Quotes:

[watching a clip of Hitler speaking]Lilibet: Whats he saying?

King George VI: I dont know but he seems to be saying it rather well.

Lionel Logue: How do you feel?King George VI: Full of hot air.

Lionel Logue: Isnt that what public speaking is all about?

3. Public Speaking (2010)(imdbtrailer)

Public Speaking is an interview type documentary with Fran Lebowitz directed by Martin

Scorsese. It was nominated in the Best Documentary category of the Gotham Independent

Film Awards 2010. Fran Lebowitz is said to be the less cynical version of George Carlin. She

had a moment when she was booed by a quarter million of people and having to be taken ofthe back of the stage by cops. Frans humor managed to please my stand-up comedy persona.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504320/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504320/http://www.kingsspeech.com/http://www.kingsspeech.com/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi806197529/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi806197529/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi806197529/http://www.imdb.com/http://www.imdb.com/http://www.imdb.com/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1734477/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1734477/http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi2852887065/http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi2852887065/http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi2852887065/http://speakinpublic.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/larry-crowne_hanks-in-class.jpghttp://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi2852887065/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1734477/http://www.imdb.com/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi806197529/http://www.kingsspeech.com/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504320/


3/8

Quotes:

There are too many books. The books are terrible. And this is because you have beentaught to have self-esteem.

When I was a child it was called talking back. Now its called public speaking. But itsreally the same.

4. The Great Debaters (2007)(imdbofficial sitetrailer)

This inspiring and powerful movie (inspired by a real story) won 8 awards and had another 8nominations. Denzel Washington plays the character of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley

College Texas. In 1935, Melvin B. Tolson creates the first debate team of the Wiley College and

brings the team in the national championship. The climax of the story shows the debate between

Willey College team and Harvards team.

Quotes:

Samantha: No, the time for justice, the time for freedom, and the time for equality isalways, is always right now!

James Farmer Jr.: We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do. Melvin B. Tolson: Who is the judge?

Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: The judge is God.

Melvin B. Tolson: Why is he God?

Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: Because he decides

who wins or loses. Not my opponeent.

Melvin B. Tolson: Who is your opponent?

Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: He does not exist.

Melvin B. Tolson: Why does he not exist?Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: Because he is a mere

dissenting voice of the truth I speak!

5. My Fair Lady (1964)(imdbtrailer)

There is a rumor that Columbia Pictures is preparing for 2012 a remake of the 1964 version of

the movie. The 1964 version won only 8 Academy Awards and presents the story of a flowergirl that is transformed in a lady by a snobbish and misogynistic phonetics professor. Eliza

Doolittle is played byAudrey Hepburn one of the best actresses of all time. The connection with

the Public Speaking is the road of acquiring a language, a voice. If youve never seen this

movieshame on you

Personally, Ive seen this movie for the first time back in the 80s and the words of The rain in

Spain stays mainly in the plain still play in my head.

Quotes:

Professor Henry Higgins: Why cant a woman be more like a man?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427309/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427309/http://www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com/http://www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi900858137/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi900858137/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi900858137/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058385/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058385/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3277783577/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3277783577/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3277783577/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000030/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000030/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000030/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3277783577/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058385/http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi900858137/http://www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427309/


4/8

Professor Henry Higgins: All right, Eliza, say it again.Eliza Doolittle: The rine in spine sties minely in the pline.

Professor Henry Higgins: [sighs] The *rain* in *Spain* stays *mainly* in the *plain*.

Eliza Doolittle: Didnt ah sy that?

Professor Henry Higgins: *You* won my bet? You presumptuous insect, *I* won it.

Eliza Doolittle: I could have danced all night.

6. Rocket Science (2007)(imdbtrailer)

Be-be-be bett better than The Kings Speech if you ask me. And thats because I can

personally relate to this story. A young kid that tries to find his voice, to deal with love and withthe world in general. For many people this movie may appear as ordinary.

From a Public Speaking point of view, we are introduced to the world of Policy Debate. Themovie also mentions several options to prevent stuttering: using an accent, whispering the words

and singing your speech.

Otherwise a funny movie!

Quotes:

Ginny Ryerson: Have you ever felt like you can burn the world down?Hal Hefner: Every day.

Ginny Ryerson: Resolved: that Hal Hefner should really stop letting the world tell himwhats possible and try to find out for himself. Maybe thats justa lifes philosophysuited only to some of us, those who cherish winning. So maybe its not for you. But I

think it is.
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5/8

7. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)(imdbtrailer)

Probably life is beautiful especially when is hard. We love the feeling that we have when we are

on top of the mountain because it was hard to get there.

Akeelah is a small girl, she is only eleven years old. Still she goes through tough challenges. She

lost her father when she was 6. Life gave her a talentspelling. A talent that has grown as amethod to deal with pain.

Akeelah is following a dream and the obstacles in her way seem insurmountable. An entirecommunity keeps her down. The beautiful thing happens when she continues on her road and

makes her entire community to support her.

As a thing worth to be mentioned, Laurence Fishburne adds value to this movie.

To summarize, its a movie about courage, dreams, understanding, sadness, life, friendship andgreatness.

Quotes:

Akeelah: [quoting Marianne Williamson] Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to
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6/8

be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born

to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine,we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Dr. Larabee: Does that mean anything to you?

Akeelah: I dont know.

Dr. Larabee: Its written in plain English. What does it mean?Akeelah: That Im not supposed to be afraid?

Dr. Larabee: Afraid of what?

Akeelah: Afraid of me?

Akeelah: You know that feeling where everything feels right? Where you dont have toworry about tomorrow or yesterday, where you feel safe and know youre doing the best

you can? Theres a word for that, its called love. L-O-V-E.

8. I Am Comic (2010) (imdbtrailer)

I am comic handles one of the most difficult types of public speaking Stand-up Comedy. Its

a documentary featuring among others Tom Arnold, Dave Attell, JoAnne Astrow, Ant, Steve

Bluestein, Ahmed Ahmed, Franklyn Ajaye, Lewis Black, Tim Allen, Scott Aukerman and CraigAnton.

9. Listen to Me (1989)(imdbtrailer)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568926/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568926/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3449593113/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3449593113/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3449593113/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097756/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097756/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9oslASH-2Ihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9oslASH-2Ihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9oslASH-2Ihttp://speakinpublic.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/2006-akeelah-and-the-bee-007.jpghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9oslASH-2Ihttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097756/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3449593113/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568926/


7/8

I liked it. But, I wont recommend it to a friend that is not into debating. Otherwise it can be

kind of boring.

10. Debating Robert Lee (2004)(imdbtrailer)

This was not as technical as my taste required. However, I have to admit that this movie pictured

a moral side of debating.

Quote:Debate is War!

Movies I want to see

1. Spellbound (2002)(imdbtrailer)

2. Music Within (2007)(imdbtrailer)

3. Resolved (2007)(imdbofficial sitetrailer)

And there is a third category, the movies that include in their description public speaking themes,

but the specific scenes are not at all relevant.

False Alarm Movies

1. Happily Ever After (2009)(imdbtrailer)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387973/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387973/http://www.videodetective.com/movies/trailers/debating-robert-lee-trailer/788566http://www.videodetective.com/movies/trailers/debating-robert-lee-trailer/788566http://www.videodetective.com/movies/trailers/debating-robert-lee-trailer/788566http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0334405/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0334405/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi915013913/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi915013913/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi915013913/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422783/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422783/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2598437145/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2598437145/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2598437145/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068161/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068161/http://onepotatoproductions.com/resolved/http://onepotatoproductions.com/resolved/http://onepotatoproductions.com/resolved/trailer.movhttp://onepotatoproductions.com/resolved/trailer.movhttp://onepotatoproductions.com/resolved/trailer.movhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517475/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517475/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj0Afi2o5gohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj0Afi2o5gohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj0Afi2o5gohttp://speakinpublic.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/listen-to-me-1989-movie-06.pnghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj0Afi2o5gohttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517475/http://onepotatoproductions.com/resolved/trailer.movhttp://onepotatoproductions.com/resolved/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068161/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2598437145/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422783/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi915013913/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0334405/http://www.videodetective.com/movies/trailers/debating-robert-lee-trailer/788566http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387973/


8/8

The synopsis from Wikipedia says:Nan Au-Yeung and Sze Tso-chi share the same birthday, go

to the same school, love photography, and are just as competitive. But they did not know of each

others existence until they crossed swords at adebate tournament.

Ok, the keywords debate and tournament made me check this movie. Well, the debate scene

is short and irrelevant (meaning for me that I cannot learn anything from it). Otherwise it its aromantic movie that maybe some of you may find pleasant.

Documents

Public Speaking and Related Movies