One of the Best Films of 2010 & Certainly the One with the Best Cast.

Rating: Null/10 (25 February 2011)

Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Tom Hooper's The King's Speech may not seem quite worthy of its prestigious honour on looking back today but its admirable visual flair, gorgeous set pieces, superb direction & magnificent performances do manage to lift it over the above-average level even if its story feels inadequately paced & not very compelling.
A British historical drama set from 1925 to 1939, The King's Speech tells the story of King George VI who, in order to cope with his stammer, enlists the help of a speech therapist and the film as a whole is his journey from his struggle with stutter to becoming the United Kingdom's voice during the outbreak of Second World War while also covering his friendship with his therapist.
Directed by Tom Hooper, the subject matter is transitioned on the screen in meticulous detail with extensive attention given to its visual presentation to provide an authentic look to the whole premise. Also complimenting it is Alexandre Desplat's impressive score but the strongest aspects of this film are its high-quality performances, especially from Colin Firth & Geoffrey Rush.
Colin Firth chips in with a career best work & is immensely convincing in the role of King George VI. Geoffrey Rush delivers a calm but firmly controlled performance as the speech therapist, and the scenes between the two are the film's real highlights. Helena Bonham Carter is almost always amazing no matter what role she plays & even Guy Pearce surprises here with a commendable performance.
On an overall scale, The King's Speech is a mixed bag that critics found way too much to praise about back when it was released & although it's possibly one of the best films of its year, it certainly isn't the best. The film is at its finest when it's trying to portray the fear & frustration of King George VI with his speech disorder but as a monarch drama, it remains an underwhelming experience for the most part. Worth a shot, nonetheless.