Brilliant performances

Rating: 8/10 (17 February 2020)

Colin Firth, Helena Bonham-Carter and Geoffrey Rush provide top performances in this moving portrayal of King George "Bertie" VI and his lifelong struggle with a stammer. The film also depicts his rise to the throne as he became "the reluctant king" on the eve of the Second World War. Firth was deserving of his Oscar win as King George, and Carter as his wife and Rush as his therapist were unlucky not to win Oscars for their supporting role. The chemistry between Firth and Rush is believable and is the film's highlight. It does a good job to avoid being overly sentimental and at the same time humanises an aristocrat. It strips a king down from a figurehead and pillar of strength and obedience to just another vulnerable and flawed human being. In fact, owing to his position, this is a man who is more vulnerable than the average person, and "The King's Speech" sets out to portray that and does its job superbly.