A kingly performance

Rating: 7/10 (20 April 2015)

Playing the stammering King George VI would seem to be an incredible challenge for an actor. Colin Firth proves more than up to the task, turning in a quite remarkable performance. King George, or Prince Albert as he was at the start of this film, had no voice. Words remained hopelessly stuck in his throat, a tremendous problem for a royal who in the new modern age of radio would be heard by an entire empire. When that microphone turns on there is nowhere for Albert to hide. Perhaps a lesser royal could withdraw, lead a quiet life of solitude. A king does not have this option. He was never supposed to be king but when his brother gives up the throne Albert is front and center, the new King George VI, a man who must speak to and inspire his people as they head into war. And the poor man can not speak at all.
Firth, guided by director Tom Hooper, does such an excellent job portraying the stammering prince who would become an inspiring king. There was a fine line to be walked with how exactly to portray the stammer. Go too far with it and the film might be unbearably uncomfortable to watch. Don't go far enough and the events of the film will seem nowhere near as consequential as they should. Firth gets it just about perfectly right. There are moments where it is a little bit uncomfortable. But that's kind of the point. This was a painful affliction for Albert to live with and at times it was truly painful for anyone who had to listen to him. This is never more evident than in the film's opening scene, in which Albert gives his first big, public speech. It goes terribly. He is embarrassed. Everyone listening is embarrassed for him. Enter Lionel Logue.
Geoffrey Rush plays Logue, Albert's speech therapist. Firth and Rush prove to be a winning combination, they play off one another so well. Albert's frustrations mount, his temper often boils over. But Logue is always there to guide him forward. In this test of wills commoner Logue will prove to be just as strong as the man who would be king. It's a sort of buddy film but one with serious consequences. Albert's brother, David, ascends to the throne but he's not long for the job. Crisis of his own making causes David, who clearly was never going to be much of a king anyway, to step down. Albert is now king. And the new King George VI needs Lionel Logue more than Prince Albert ever did.
The film, as most films of this sort do, takes some liberties with some historical facts but the gist of the true story shines through. And it really is a remarkable story. An inspiring story too, and so well performed by the two key players, Firth and Rush. There are notable performances as well from Guy Pearce and Helena Bonham Carter. Pearce plays David, the man who is ever so briefly King Edward VIII. Burdened with a responsibility he does not want, and obsessed with a love which is forbidden, David is a tough character to play. Pearce does well to make you feel sympathy for him when appropriate and to make you want to punch him in the face when that is appropriate. Carter plays Albert's ever-supportive wife, a woman who is a rock he can always lean on. An easy character to love. Pearce, Carter and other supporting players add a great deal to the proceedings. Notable are a few nice moments sprinkled in with the king's young daughters, one of whom, Elizabeth, has quite a future ahead of her. But of course the film is really all about King George VI and Lionel Logue. And in playing those roles Firth and Rush elevate the whole film. While it is certainly a compelling story it is not the liveliest thing you've ever seen. There are times it is somewhat slowly paced, times things seem a little mundane. But you know the stakes. The king has to find his voice. A nation, an empire, depends on it. It was such a struggle for the king. Firth brilliantly brings that struggle to life. The King's Speech is, if not a tremendous film, certainly a very good one. Firth's performance? That most certainly is tremendous.