The King's Speech (2010)

I keep hearing all this buzz about Colin Firth's performance in The King's Speech and how brilliant he is as King George VI. Frankly, I didn't want to see this movie because it looked very boring and I wasn't entirely sure I knew when George VI was even king of England. Indeed, a movie about a king who can't talk right doesn't even sound appealing. In fact the only thing that can save a film with boring material on the surface level is great acting and clever dialogue. And after winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Leading Role during a stellar year of acting, my wife and I decided to go see it. We were surprised to say the least.

The film is engaging, witty, and clever. The plot is simple enough to keep up with. Albert (Firth), Duke of York, is the son of King George V (Michael Gambon) and the younger brother of David, Duke of Windsor (Guy Pearce). Obviously he is royalty and required to be a public figure which requires speaking in that particular realm. The only problem is that the Duke has a speech impediment. Public speeches are painful for him and for anyone who has to listen. Albert's wife, Princess Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), and himself seek out speech experts across London in hopes of a cure. After exhausting efforts across the city Elizabeth finds Lionel Louge (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian speech expert who uses unorthodox methods of curing his patients. Shenanigan's ensue.

Overall, this movie is capable of winning multiple Academy Awards. It is worthy of Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and will most definitely be Colin Firth's first "golden statue". It is a little slow and at times boring, but a strong script and extraordinary acting keep the ball rolling. This film is also funny. The relational dynamics between Louge and Albert are interesting as the personalities of a commoner and member of royalty collide to provide some genuine laughs.

Recommendation: Once again this movie is a must see. I recommend it to anyone who knows anything about world history and who are age appropriate. There is no nudity, violence, adult situations, and with the exception of some language in a few scenes in the movie it might even be considered a family film. Although it is not quite as such, so no small children parents.

Extra: This is a short history lesson for anyone looking for further perspective on the movie. The relationship between King George VI and Lional Louge began in the mid 1920's. After Albert's stammering exhibition at Wembley Stadium in 1925, he was mortified and resolved to find a cure. He meets Louge in the year following the Wembley debacle and by 1927 Albert is delivering speeches without stuttering. In 1936 King George V dies and Albert's brother David becomes King Edward VIII. Less then a year later, King Edward abdicates the throne to marry his twice divorced, commoner mistress, Wallis Simpson. King George VI (Albert) was his successor. King George VI was the king of England during World War II. He did not give the declaration of war speech that was portrayed in the movie. In reality it was Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.