A truly inspiring historical drama

Rating: 8/10 (8 December 2014)

Cinema, both in Britain and America, has long had a fascination with the kings and queens of England. From Shakespeare's historical plays to the struggles between the Royalists and Parliamentarians in the English Civil War to the many films about the Tudors, countless movies have focused on the lives and deeds of the Royal Family. Compared to these tales, the story of how a new king learned to overcome a speech impediment might seems somewhat underwhelming, and perhaps not the best material for a major feature film. And yet director Tom Hooper and writer David Seidler have turned it into one of the best films of 2011.
For one thing, a lot more is riding on George the VI learning to speak than you might guess at first. As king, he is expected to be the voice of his people. If he stammers on the airwaves, it won't just be him who looks weak, but the entire nation and its empire. Plus, given the circumstances surrounding his ascension to the throne, his popularity is far from universal; one misstep and his subjects could lose faith in him entirely. And most importantly, his nation is on the verge of war with the Third Reich. Now, perhaps more than ever, it is vital that England and its leaders give off their strongest image.
More importantly to the film's success, it's not just about a man learning to speak in public. It's about the relationship between him and the man teaching him how to do it. It's a relationship with a less than auspicious beginning. Prince Albert, Duke of York, second in the line of succession, has had it with speech therapists, and is in no mood to put up with some commoner who constantly provokes him and demands to be treated as an equal. At many points he threatens to break off the treatment entirely. But as Logue's methods start to pay off, their patient-doctor relationship grows into a most unlikely yet extremely deep and long lasting friendship.
As sappy as this may sound, in reality it's truly uplifting to watch two men from completely different backgrounds, and with so little in common, form a bond of trust and respect that will last a lifetime and strengthen both of them. And it's equally inspiring to see how a failed Shakespearean actor who's too poor to heat his offices or higher a secretary could be the one to help a king find his voice. And The King's Speech is also frequently humorous, nowhere more so than when Logue shows 'Bertie' that cursing cures a stammer, which is certainly why the film received an R rating.
And of course the acting is exceptional. As the king's wife, Helena Bonham Carter manages to be perfectly cultured and ladylike, yet also assertive, independent, and even a bit devious, in the best possible meaning of the word. Guy Pearce, as older brother Edward VIII, effortlessly gives of the air of a spoiled, irresponsible fop without taking it into the realm of caricature. And Geoffrey Rush, in the role of Lionel Logue, is lovably eccentric yet serious, even intense when need be. And there's a spark of life in his eyes, an irrepressible sense of humor just beneath the surface in most scenes, the exception being when it's on full display.
But it's Colin Firth in the title role who's the star of the show. I've heard that faking a stammer is one of the hardest challenges in acting. If true, then on this alone Firth deserved his best actor Oscar. His opening speech at the horse track was simply painful to watch. And when listening to his (much improved) speech at the end, then to the actual speech from George VI, it would be near impossible to tell them apart if not for the difference in sound quality. What's more, he exudes a sense of determination and duty so powerful that you can feel it. And when he gets mad, oh does he ever get mad. Every emotion he's asked to carry out is done perfectly.
It will probably put small children to sleep (and teach them some words parents prefer they not know) and anyone looking for action and excitement should look elsewhere, but for any fan of highbrow cinema, The King's Speech is an absolute must see.