The King's Speech

The shy and stammering Prince Albert finds it impossible to speak publically; after seeing dozens of speech therapists, he is referred to the genial Australian Lionel Logue. However the progress he is making may be all too slow- his father in failing health and his older brother infatuated with a totally unsuitable American divorcee, it seems that the reluctant Prince may have to take the throne he dreads.

The Kings Speech was jolly good and comes confidently recommended. The film centres on the man who would become King George the 6th, at the beginning of the 2nd World War. The plot, however, deals little with the struggles of the country in this trying time, but focuses on the personal problem that ‘Bertie’ (as his family call him) faces with public speaking, suffering as he does from a stammer. His wife, played commendably by Helena Bonham-Carter, fixes him up with a last-resort speech therapist who has unconventional methods. (I say commendably, not because she was particularly good, which I suppose she was, but because she wasn’t terrible, as I feared she would be, having never seen her play anyone but her shrieking gothic self).

Jim has taken to calling her 'Helena Boned-Corset'.

The trust and friendship that is built, despite reservations from Bertie, between him and the therapist, is where the charm of this film lies. The best scenes are those in the therapist’s studio, where he has Bertie engaging in all manner of exercises, from dignified waltzing to swearing at the top of his lungs. All very amusing. Sombre at times, it has a solid story and a happy ending, and faithful lack of airbrushing.

4/5

Lauded everywhere already, and Oscar fodder it most definitely is, there is very little to say about the King's Speech you won't have heard a dozen times already. Its great, nuff said.
So I will instead lay a few random points down.

It is so refreshing to see Geoffery Rush cast off his pirate gear (though he was obviously having a good time) and do some proper acting. He is charming as Logue the speech therapist, although his accent does become more antipodean in the presence of his Aussie family...it could be the same accent-inhibiting allergy to tables that affected him in Pirates 3.

"Arrr, and ye know thys to be troo, oi...noo, sorrie, oi jost caant hold it, arrrrrr, where be me trailer? Oi'm off fer a coffee"

Look closely at a scene where King George 'Bertie' the Sixth and Lionel Logue walk through a fog bound park. Its almost all in one take, and it is gorgeous.

There are some surprisingly moving and profound insights into the King's upbringing. Although it never descends into Poor Little Rich Boy cliches it does tackle the paradox of power (the higher up you are, the more people will tell you what to do) and the harrowing real reasons behind speech impediments; bullying, persecution and abuse.

As a man who loves the sound of his own voice and positively welcomes public speaking, it took some very good tricks to put me in the shoes of the nervous, speech-hating King. But it was very well done, and not just by visuals; the subtle off-hand comments in the script about how many thousands will be listening, and how great he will probably be build up a real sense of apprehension and nerves that we know, as an audience, will only serve to worsen the King's worries.

I love the place they found to be Logue's 'office'. A big as a bunker, with a curved roof, all copper-oxide and bare stone. It was a truly unique and original set.

It pains me to say that among a cast of great actors, Timothy Spall, national treasure that he is, appeared to be slightly hamming it up. His portrayal of Churchill is rather too caricatured and he seems to be shoehorned in just because any World War 2 drama simply must have a Churchill.
Still, one could argue that Churchill himself was such a larger-than-life character it would be impossible to play him subtly. We shall never know.

Finally: Colin Firth. A speech impediment is a hard thing to act without making it ridiculous or comedic. And its hard to deliver lines when in fact, there is not line, just a terrible, confused pause from a character who just CANNOT get the words out. But Colin Firth proves once again just how awesome he is. He never slips into parody once, and it is hard to believe that it is in any way unnatural for him to stammer. Good on you, sir.

In conclusion, see the King's Speech. I recommend it every bit as much as I would recommend a hot bath, a cup of tea, a Joseph Wright painting or a favourite piece of music. It is just the tonic.

5/5