An Excellent, If Overrated, Film.

Rating: 7/10 (23 September 2011)

The film is about the Duke of York (Colin Firth) who, following the death of his father (Michael Gambon) and the abdication of the throne by his elder brother (Guy Pearce), would be king. The problem with Albert (later King George VI), however, is that he has a debilitating stammer that prevents him from fronting the regal presence of his predecessors. After a series of failures with other speech therapists, his wife (Helena Bonham Carter) takes him to the controversial Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush): a man who, despite no formal training or credentials, has achieved miraculous results (particularly with shell-shocked veterans of the first world war). Despite fictitious beginnings, the two men grow close as they conquer the soon-to-be King's speech impediment.
"The King's Speech" is an exemplary show of acting. Colin Firth rightly deserved his Oscar for Best Actor, given his convincing (yet not overbearing) performance as King George VI. This might sound like a mere compliment, but it is really much more. Sean Penn (in 2001's "I Am Sam") gave an unbearably over-the-top and unrealistic (if emotionally engaging) performance as an autistic single father. There, the acting was obvious artifice: obtrusive and painful to watch. Colin Firth avoids the pitfalls of portraying an individual with abnormalities while offering a realistic and engaging performance. Sometimes emotional, other times fiercely reserved, Firth never fails to be an entrancing and sympathetic figure.
Colin Firth isn't the only outstanding performance in "The King's Speech." Geoffrey Rush also adds his entrancing presence to the film, creating the Merlin-esque Lion Logue through his striking minimalistic acting. Michael Gambon (popularly known for his portrayal of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series) gives two great performances in the film: first, as the regal and dominating King George V (who has grown impatient with his eldest son's moral failings and his youngest son's oratory failings) and second as the infirmed and Alzheimer-ridden King in his later years. Both performances are given with a commendably stark realism. Jack Pearce gives and enchanting performance of the charismatic King Edward VIII: the man who abdicates the throne in order to marry for love. Although generally charming and captivating, in a brief yet memorable scene he darkly mocks his younger brother for his stutter and presumed lust for the throne. Helena Bonham Carter further lends her stoic and refined presence to Queen Elizabeth, the supportive and loving wife of King George VI.
At times comic and at others grave, "The King's Speech" is story not merely of an individual, but of a budding friendship, a sometimes-estranged family and a nation at the brink of war. It goes without saying that speech therapists will love this movie. Fans of historical dramas will also find this a pleasure to watch. While the editing is more slowly paced than I would have preferred and the film considerably overrated, it is nonetheless of exceptional quality.