Two fabulous movies — but are they for everyone?

Both Black Swan and The King's Speech are so absorbing that you lose yourself in them (that's what happened to me over the weekend).

There's a profound psychological aspect to Natalie Portman's portrayal of the angst-ridden ballerina in Black Swan. And she does such a good job of it that one can have no quarrel with her Oscar for Best Actress.

In The King's Speech, Colin Firth is superb (and a fitting winner of the Best Actor Oscar) as the royal stammerer. This film is based on a true story and that makes it all the more touching — Geoffrey Rush is marvellous as the speech therapist and the scenes featuring the "teacher" and the "student" alone are worth the price of the ticket. In addition, there is a lot of humour and wit in this movie.

TALKING POINT: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush in The King's Speech.

I have to say, though, that neither of these films may appeal to the average movie-goer. Both are for thinking people. It helps to know something about ballet and Swan Lake to really appreciate Black Swan. And it helps to know something about British culture and the British public's obsession with the royal family and the story of a king's renunciation of his throne to marry the woman he loved to really appreciate The King's Speech, which also won, deservingly, the Best Picture Oscar.

After you watch both, let me know whether you agree with my views.