The King's Speech (2010) Plus Trailer

You may not believe this but this is actually a lot more interesting that it sounds. The film starts off with Prince Albert (Colin Firth) trying to give a speech to a crowd where he begins to seize up and stammers, the narrative goes straight to the point where we are given the main focus of this sublime historical dramatisation of a true story.

Set amongst within the realms of royalty and regalness, we are given an inside view into the lives of the monarchy. Here we find the future King unable to speak to his Empire and has exhausted every known cure and method to overcome his lack of ability to speak in public. We see a man in utter internal (and external) conflict. His wife (the future Queen Mother played by Helena Bonham Carter) seeks out an alternative doctor Lionel Logue (played by Geoffery Rush) in the ads in the back of a newspaper, known for his unique methods, inquisitive charm and unorthodox approaches.

Lionel Logue (Geoffery Rush)

When Prince Albert (or as Logue affectionately calls him Bertie) meets Lionel for the first time he is skeptical about his methods. Unperturbed by his status, Logue embarks on curing the would be King to overcome his demons. Of course with Lionel being of Australian heritage and Bertie being royalty, we get the obvious culture clashes and Bertie doesn't go along with Lionels methods at first. He does come around when he hears improvements (and when he needs to speak out to the public) but it's the characterisations and humorous situations (particular seeing a would be King performing his vocal exercises but especially when he is asked to curse like never before) that bring this picture such entertaining joy.

Bertie and Lionel perform their muscular vocal exercises

It's the smart screenplay that celebrates it's characters and it's dialogue. It's a riveting story which is more about the blossoming friendship between Lionel and Bertie. Set between the death of the current reigning Monarch (King George V) and ending at the dawn of the second world war, the narrative never veers off into too much into historical events, and the main focus is always upon Lionel and Bertie. With the heir apparent (his brother) Prince David gives up the opportunity to rule the Kingdom, the duty and responsibility falls upon Bertie to lead the way and do the right thing by his country. You'd forget that amongst all this is an actual true story of a man who actually has troubles speaking out in public and in private too.

Sir Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall)

Colin Firth and Geoffery Rush are both on commanding form (and as I write this both have been given a nomination for an Oscar for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively). All the supporting cast deserve some plaudits for their portrayal of historical figures that include Sir Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), King George V (Michael Gambon) and the film even features a young future Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. If Firth doesn't walk away with an Oscar then there's something wrong with the voting panel. I have never been so willing for a man to say something in a film as I have done so in this. You hang on to every utterance and every stutter, you share the pain (It is said that Firth even developed a minor stutter after filming for his consistent and constant portrayal of a man who suffers from this infliction), it's all credit to Colin Firth that we do sympathies with him showing as just a mere man (admittedly with a posh accent) whose duty just so happens to include public speaking. When you finally get to the end, it is such a joyous moment of achievement you can't but help be swept along with the celebrations and moved by it all. An outstanding film that will be heralded as a classic in years to come.

19/20