An unexpectedly great film

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 2011)

Don't let the Royal Family subject matter put you off, The King's Speech isn't a flag waving feature espousing all things monarchy. At heart it's a much more personal story about one man's battle against a debilitating affliction. Colin Firth nails the part, and not just because he is able to stutter convincingly. Speech impediments are great material for actors trying to win acting awards but really the power of Firth's performance is in the way he presents a complex multi-dimensional character. The fact it is a real person makes it all the more tricky but he really pulls it off very well and it's not hard to see why he walked away with the big acting prizes this year. Of equal note is Geoffrey Rush as his speech therapist. He too is marvellous, and the chemistry between the two leads is terrific and really makes this a true acting master-class.
The background detail also interested me. The way George VI's older brother was such an irresponsible waster was fascinating – indeed if you do any research on this character you'll see that the film lets him off lightly if anything. The atmosphere of impending war also nicely set a parallel with the king's increasing anxiety in his new public role. Overall, the period detail was very good and means that the film can also be appreciated as a historical film.
The King's Speech is ultimately a feel-good film. But it's really a very high quality example of its type. It has great production values, top class acting and presents an interesting snap-shot of history. It would never have been a film that would normally have stood out to me but I'm pleased that the good notices it received made me check it out.