Mesmerizing.

Rating: 10/10 (5 February 2011)

A film about a man trying to overcome a speech impediment? Can't be too good, the subject matter isn't exactly riveting is it. Well, that's what I thought before seeing The King's Speech anyhow; before witnessing a performance by Colin Firth that must put him in good stead to finally win himself the illustrious Oscar for Best Actor; before seeing Geoffrey Rush at his absolute best; and before scribe David Siedler and director Tom Hooper demonstrated that a film about a man trying to overcome a speech impediment can be bloody riveting.
Hooper is a very British director; not in the sense of where he was born, rather that he has excelled working on projects that concentrate on the majestic and regal way of life and that exclusively deal with archetypical high class British characters. He's obviously keen on period pieces – his "John Adams" and "Elizabeth I" miniseries attest to this – and he's now developed that avidness and prior experience into something very special indeed. Dramatic period pieces are often renounced as ostentatious, overly-flamboyant pictures that feature pompous, plum-mouthed characters hard to care for. When done right – hello, Elizabeth and The Young Victoria – they're anything but; they're enthralling, exciting and transcend the multi-generational gap. Hooper has achieved this with near perfection, for his recount of the Prince's battle with a stammer is unequivocally gripping from start to finish without even a hint of pretension.
At its heart The Kings Speech is a buddy flick in its finest form. The relationship between Lionel and Bertie – as the quirky Australian would call him, much to Prince Albert's dismay – is funny, sad, touching and engaging, with their friendship blossoming in a natural and compelling way. They complement each other akin to Matthau and Lemmon did in The Odd Couple; Albert uptight and apprehensive thanks to his secluded life within castle walls where the butlers and nannies counted as friends, Lionel carefree and slightly off-kilter due to his acting background. However Lionel's abrasiveness – and more specifically his determination to treat Bertie like a common person – was exactly what Albert required, and quite probably, yearned for.
It goes without saying that the standard of acting on show is second to none. Firth has garnered critical acclaim that has many thinking he is a shoo-in for the Academy Award, and honestly, he should be. He embodies the insecure Albert with the ideal balance of strength and vulnerability, making him relatable and likable despite his many human flaws. Rush on the other hand is an affecting delight as the idiosyncratic and often facetious Logue, investing him with such depth and charisma that should see him also nab an Oscar nom. Somewhat against type as Queen Elizabeth, Bonham Carter is marvellous as the sturdy and even-tempered constant in Albert's life, prompting thoughts that perhaps she should stray from husband Tim Burton a little more often in her career.
The King's Speech is sumptuously photographed, powerfully acted, captivatingly scripted and brilliantly directed. Simply put: it's mesmerizing.
5 out of 5 (1 - Rubbish, 2 - Fine, 3 - Good, 4 - Great, 5 - Brilliant)