Witty, emotionally satisfying, and topped off with an impressive cast. The King's Speech is a success.

Rating: 9/10 (20 January 2011)

The film is a slow moving, but also outstanding historical feature that stars Colin Firth as Albert Frederick Arthur George (Or "Bertie" by his family), the Duke of York. After a lifetime of neglect, and favoritism for his older brother Edward, Bertie has developed a nervous and fearful stammer. Hoping to cure him, his wife, the future Queen Elizabeth (Played by Helena Bonham Carter), seeks the help of an unorthodox Australian speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Played by Geoffrey Rush). The two make steady progress, and develop a strong friendship, but when Bertie's brother gives up his throne, Bertie is pushed to a true test as England is now on the brink of World War II.
It's an inspiring and emotionally satisfying movie. The film is directed by Tom Hooper, who draws excellent performances out of his cast, and written by David Seidler, who draws a cohesive sense of focus between the film's narrative, and theme explorations, such as the senses of social hierarchy. It's a dramatic, witty, and passionately crafted form of art from a man who had to overcome his own stuttering problem. A personal story like that often tends to translate quite well.
But the main draw of the movie is the interactions of the two unlikely friends. Colin Firth is simply excellent as George VI, continuing a hot streak that started with last year's A Single Man. He not only pulls of a convincing stutter to gain sympathy, but also draws focus to his prickly faults, such as a short fused temper, and his uncertainty in Royal placement. Rush is also pitch perfect, approaching his role with patience, sheer heart, and sharp wit. Chemistry like the kind that these two share is simply impossible to fake. The movie is also handsomely produced, especially boasting impressive production and costume design by Eve Stewart and Jenny Beavan.
The King's Speech is a fine, fine film, indeed, and I give it ***1/2 out of ****