A jewel of a movie

Rating: Null/10 (9 January 2011)

In one sense, this subject - the unexpected and (by him especially) unwanted accession to the throne of Prince Albert as King George VI - is an obvious choice for a British film for we love tales about the monarchy - think of "Elizabeth", "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", "The Madness Of King George", "The Young Victoria, "Mrs Brown", "The Queen" ... On the other hand, an instance of extreme stammering would seem to be a most unsuitable subject for a medium which is all about fluency in both words and vision. Yet the outcome is a triumph.
Considerable credit goes first to scriptwriter David Seidler who was attracted to the project as both a stammerer like the King and an Australian like his speech therapist. Director Tom Hooper - whose television mini-series "John Adams" I enjoyed so very much - has crafted a wonderful work that will bring special pride to his father whom I know professionally.
Fresh from his superb performance in "A Single Man", Colin Firth provides a superlative portrayal of the psychologically damaged George, known to his family - and (impertinently) his speech therapist - as Bertie. While magnificent Aussie Geoffrey Rush was the one with the mental problems in "Shine", here he is the one with the (considerably unorthodox) response, therapist Lionel Logue who provides compensating techniques and much-needed friendship. Helena Bonham Carter is perfect as George's wife and (an Australian affecting a splendid English accent) Guy Pearce is ideal as George's brother.
But this is a rare jewel of a movie - one with not a wasted or weak line of dialogue, one with not a less than accomplished and convincing piece of acting however small the role. There is plenty of humour and tenderness in a story that ends in a personal triumph: the speech at the end, which is one of the two allusions in the clever title, when you hang on every word as Beethoven belts out.