The King's Speech

The King's Speech

For months, I've been hearing about The King's Speech and how good Colin Firth is in it. This is usually a problem because either a) the movie ends up being just okay, or b) my expectations are so high that I end up thinking the movie is just okay even if it is pretty good.

Thankfully, The King's Speech is worth the hype. And so is Colin Firth. Based on a true story, The King's Speech is about the future King George VI (Colin Firth) of England, who has a stammering problem which is only made worse by a judgmental royal family and the pressure of having to speak publicly to his subjects. His wife Elizabeth (Helena Bodham Carter) tries to find a doctor who can help him and is unsuccessful until she meets an unconventional Australian named Lionel Logue. Can Logue's wonky methods, which include treating the King as an equal and calling him by his nickname 'Bertie' work?

I will be honest, there is nothing in The King's Speech you haven't seen before. The film's narrative follows a well trod road. None of that matters because this is one of the most exquisite movies of the year. Every element comes together perfectly, including some killer acting, great direction, an excellent script.  All the technical pieces such as art direction, score, and sound design are extremely well done.

And how about Colin Firth? Though he is an actor I've always admired, I didn't know he had this in him. His Bertie isn't just the run-of-the-mill victim we have to root for. He is a three-dimensional character with some true flaws - he has a bit of a temper, he puts too much value on his 'duty,' and he gets stressed out pretty easily. But he is a kind man, a decent man, a man who could be a good leader if he could only find his own voice. And as World War 2 looms closer, it suddenly isn't about just his voice. He needs to be the voice of the nation. And with that weight on his shoulders, Firth absolutely shines, giving us every nuance, every shade of George. It's a remarkable performance.

Firth is ably supported by Carter and Rush (both of whom will deservedly score Oscar nods, I'm sure), as well as a terrific supporting cast that includes Michael Gambon (Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series), Derek Jacobi (Hamlet), Timothy Spall (Secrets and Lies), Guy Pierce (Memento), and Claire Bloom (The Spy Who Came in From the Cold).

The King's Speech is not my favorite film of the year; that honor still goes to Inception. And from an objective standpoint, The Social Network might be the best film of the year (it is certainly an Oscar frontrunner). But these movies better watch their backs; The King's Speech is almost as good and I wouldn't be surprised if it snuck up and stole their awards glory. 

UPDATE: King's Speech did indeed have one heck on an Oscar run, building momentum until becoming the frontrunner and winning the big prize!

OSCARS: Best Picture, Best Director (Tom Hooper), Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Original Screenplay (David Seidler)

OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bodham Carter), Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Original Score, Sound Mixing

SPOILER: I also want to discuss the climax of the film, where George actually delivers the speech of the title (to the tune of Beethoven's 7th Symphony). I admire that they film the entire speech, cross-cutting from George's perspective in the recording booth to the living rooms of the millions of subjects listening on the radio. It's a neat bit of filmmaking because we see how it seems so easy to those listening, and then we see the recording booth and how George is literally fighting to get through the speech. It's a bravura scene in a bravura performance. SPOILER OVER.

MVP: Clearly it is Colin Firth. The film sits firmly on his shoulders, and he delivers in spades.

This is one of those once in a lifetime roles, one of those moments when character and actor are perfectly suited to each other (think George C. Scott and Patton or Peter O'Toole and Lawrence of Arabia). He deserves all the accolades I've been hearing about the last several months. It's a helluva performance.

BEST LINE: Logue: "Tell me a joke." George: "T-t-timing isn't my strong suit."

TRIVIA: While prepping the film, the producers knew they wanted Geoffrey Rush for Lionel Logue, but couldn't get the script to him. Though against industry standards (and in a really desperate move), they slipped the script through his mail slot, with a cover note that apologized profusely for the intrusion and they really just wanted him to know the script existed. Surprisingly, Rush read the script and joined the production. He also ended up becoming one of the executive producers!