The King's Speech

http://www.kingsspeech.com/

My next cinematic outing was to see another showing of Love and Other Drugs. As much as I know you're dying to know what I thought of that movie, as I've said before, it doesn't count in the reviews of 2011. Moving swiftly on then to The King's Speech. The film had been released to rave reviews and early performances quickly sold out. It had been on general release for a week when I eventually managed to see it. This was initially to my annoyance, but had The King's Speech not been sold out I wouldn't have had the pleasure of seeing It's Kind of a Funny Story - see below review. So with trepidation I went along with the crowd to see what was soon to be a multi-award winning film. 

The King's Speech tells the story of Prince Albert Duke of York, who reluctantly became King George VI when his brother King Edward VIII, decided he would rather marry divorced american socialite Wallis Simpson than retain the throne. Albert, who not only had no desire to be King, had a debilitating stammer which prevented him from speaking publicly. Quite a problem when you're the King of England. Luckily for 'Bertie' his wife Queen Elizabeth, who would later become the beloved Queen Mother, was a no-nonsense sort of woman who sought help from an Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. Logue's unorthodox methods enrage the King and lead Bertie to storm out of Logue's office believing he cannot be cured. However, Logue has method to his madness and the King soon discovers that these methods of curing him, no matter how ludicrous, actually work. 

In order to understand (and like) Bertie's character we must learn the reason for him being an uncomfortable King and a stammerer. Understandably this tale takes time to tell. As such the film does feel long, and in telling the back story of Edward VIII's rise and fall it takes a while to get to this story's strength, the friendship forged between the King and Dr Logue. Two very different men who find common ground, allowing them to work together and become life long friends. Which in the end benefits them both.

Although I didn't enjoy The King's Speech as much as other recent monarchy based movies such as The Duchess or Young Victoria I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The performances are all exemplary as you would expect from such a cast; Colin Firth's stuffy King, Helena Bonham Carter's fiesty Queen, Geoffrey Rush's wonderfully weird speech therapist and Guy Pearce's stubborn Edward VIII, with a spiffing English accent to boot. The only criticism I have with the casting lies in Timothy Spall who I find quite creepy in every role he plays. It works well for him in Harry Potter but not so much when he's playing Winston Churchill. 


Which brings me to the final scene. Yes it is somewhat predictable, but it's the ending you find yourself routing for and leaves the movie with a feel-good finish. And there's nothing wrong with that. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 14th January 2011

UK Release Date - 7th January 2011

Cast Overview:

Colin Firth ~ King George VI

Geoffrey Rush ~ Lionel Logue 

Helena Bonham Carter ~ Queen Elizabeth

Guy Pearce ~ King Edward VIII

Derek Jacobi ~ Archbishop Cosmo Lang

Michael Gambon ~ King George V

Timothy Spall ~ Winston Churchill

Jennifer Ehle ~ Myrtle Logue

Eve Best ~ Wallace Simpson

Director ~ Tom Hooper

Writer ~ David Seidler (Screenplay)