Sterling Firth/Rush/Bonham Carter - One of the Year's Best

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2011)

THE KING'S SPEECH (2010) **** Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Jennifer Ehle, Clarie Bloom , Timothy Spall. Excellent drama focusing on King George VI (Oscar-worthy Firth in one of his absolute best performances) whose reluctant ascension to the high order of England is only circumvented by his life-long suffering stammer that comes to a head by enlisting an Unorthodox speech specialist (deviled ham Rush equally worthy of an Academy Award as Supporting Actor) with the full support of his faithfully stoic wife (Bonham Carter, ditto for Supporting Actress). Championed by a sterling script by David Seidler and subtly helmed by director Tom Hooper the film serves as both a parable about a war-torn nation (i.e. WWII UK) being bolstered in spirit by a tongue-tied leader overcoming various demons and all odds against him, succeeding in the long run. One of the year's best and arguably one of the most satisfying acting ensembles in some time.