King’s Speech

King’s Speech

The King's Speech is a richly enjoyable, instantly absorbing true-life drama about the morganatic romance between introverted stammered King George VI and his exuberant Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue: an affair brokered by George's shrewd wife in her pre-Queen-Mum incarnations as the Duchess of York, and then Queen Elizabeth. These characters are performed with pure theatrical gusto by Colin Firth as the miserably afflicted monarch, Geoffrey Rush as the twinkly eyed speech coach and the Queen who has to learn to like Logue by overcoming her own arrogance – which she incidentally never troubles to disguise as shyness.

 It is a singularly gratifying experience to watch the king’s stars, do what they do best: act. It's like watching a master class. They disappear into their characters and make them both interesting and understandable. That's not always the case with films about royalty. Often, they're a visual and unremarkable summary of what we know from books; here, they fascinate with their trials, triumphs, and, most of all, humanity. And for a movie steeped in a feel-good message. You don't need to be afraid of the things you were afraid of when you were 5," intones one man -- it's far from old.

Once again the British gives us commoners a peek behind the palace walls and once again it isn't very pleasant. At least, this time we have a hero who isn't a complete jerk (King George) unlike his daughter as portrayed by Helen "The Queen". The jerk in this flick is his brother David who abdicates the throne for an American trollop. The king stutters in the day (before WW II) when all radio broadcasts were live. Colin Firth portrays the King and Geoffrey Rush plays the speech therapist and both do an excellent job. The class system and the snobbery are all here and the only thing that breaks it down, if only for a moment in time is the threat of war.

If this movie wasn't already the tremendous acting vehicle it's been acclaimed as, it would still be worth seeing for its stunningly realistic recreation of 1930's London. The street scenes, the historic sites, the artifacts, the transition to a war footing, all perfectly done. And I can't recall a film I've enjoyed so thoroughly on so many different levels. The acting, the continuity, the plot line and the always present undercurrent of gentle humor - almost perfection!

It gives hope to the common man and for that I thank you. Hope that we may all share at least one sensation and in that sensation we discover equality. Far too many children in our ever growing family are quick to dismiss their brothers and sisters due to ignorance, self preservation and offensiveness. I've placed upon you the greatest burden of our time; please continue to carry your banner to ease our condition. May your grace be remembered and as well our capacity to appreciate you.

However, despite the over-obvious movie structure that, on occasion, gets forced onto the historical events depicted in the film, The King’s Speech is a terrific film with great performances by the cast, as well as an inspiring, not to mention charming, story about a man who not only finds his voice, but finds his place as one of the most important leaders in history.