gorgeously told, deeply moving, brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (4 February 2011)

Our little local movie house (Fort Bragg, California) is a bit of a backwater -- a place where smart people go to escape the ratrace? It's rare we have more than 20 people at any showing, but for this, the theater was full, 150+ folks. And when this movie ended, our usually undemonstrative audience clapped. As if the makers could hear us!
Firth and Rush were superb. The screenplay was sensitive and rich -- the finely-drawn relationship between these two men, and the delineation of the relationship between "commoner" and royalty, something Americans are uncomfortable with, was sweet. We were waiting for Rush's character to call Firth's "Bertie" in public, and when the two squeaked past that awkward moment -- "Logue..." "Your Majesty..." -- the audience let out a huge sigh of relief.
What a wonderful young Queen Mum! This era of British history is practically unknown, and yet we're curious about it. The supporters were believable (Maybe Winnie was a little over the top) and relatable.
The movie's palette, almost black and white, but with moments of richness (Logue's wallpaper) that gave the color more power.
We want to see the next chapter!