Fascinating and interesting story

Rating: 8/10 (16 December 2010)

Colin Firth stars as The Duke Of York, later King George VI, who suffers from a terrible stammer and after numerous attempts to cure it, his wife played by Helena Bonham Carter finds an Australian man, Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush. Logue is a cheeky, but likable chap who is quite unperturbed by the notion of royalty and it seems has what it may take to cure the Duke's condition. A friendship of sorts forms between the two men all set amid the controversy of the Dukes older brothers affair with Wallace Simpson and the first signs of WWII.
This is a really fascinating film, about a story that I'm surprised hasn't been put on film before. Not only is the Duke and Logue's story interesting, but the look at the effect of the of the abdication and the onslaught of war is also interesting. Films that look at events within the Royal family are perhaps more interesting as they are stories we don't get to see, as much of what happens is very much behind closed doors and perhaps that means that much of what we are presented with is hearsay, but like The Queen, whatever might be suggested is done so well with much conviction. It is interesting to see the amount of affection between the future King and Queen, especially against the coldness of other royal relationships, such as when King George V dies his son and heir breaks down and clutches the Queen only for her to stand rigid and unemotional. Society has perhaps been given a set idea of the Royal family, that they are on the outside rather lacking in emotion and so it is nice to see that there is under the pomp some humanity.
With the era beautifully recreated the film looks great and there are of course excellent performances, with Bonham Carter and Rush both very good, but it is Colin Firth who again shows what a fine actor he is and it would appear the award givers agree as well, with accolades beginning to appear. The film provides a fascinating insight into an interesting time in British history, especially of Royal history and does so with enough sentiment, but not too much as well as providing some very funny moments, most of which come through the relationship of The Duke and Logue. I did struggle with the amount of swearing the Duke spat out in one session with Logue, it all seemed out of character and over the top, but otherwise this is a very enjoyable and well made film.
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