The King's Speech (A or 4/4 stars)
Every year, there is a much-lauded period prestige film. In 2007 it was the wonderful Atonement. In 2008, I enjoyed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button & Australia. And last year, the likes of Bright Star & The Last Station fit that bill, for me. This year, that film is 'The King's Speech' (directed by Tom Hooper, The Damned United, John Adams), and I'd describe it this way: staid, but exquisite. The film begins at the end of Wembley Park's 1925 Empire Exhibition. It's been a week since King George V (Michael Gambon) made his 1st Empire-wide radio broadcast, and his 2nd son Prince Albert, the Duke of York (Colin Firth), is required to deliver the Exhibition's closing address on his father's behalf. But there's a problem: the Prince has had an emotionally crippling stammer since childhood; & the speech is a debacle for him (the audience wasn't too pleased, either).
In '34, the King becomes afflicted with pneumonia, & Albert's insipid older brother Edward (Guy Pearce), is positioned to take the throne. Meanwhile, the Duchess of York (Helena Bonham Carter), unwavering in support for her husband Albert, is increasingly upset at seeing him suffer through speech treatments that fail to work. That is until she is referred to Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian actor-turned-speech therapist known for, shall we say, unorthodox methods. When Albert is brought to Logue, he is initially uncomfortable with both his methods & his informality; such as referring to the Prince as 'Bertie' (his family nickname) - but they build a working relationship. Lionel's importance in the Prince's life escalates by 1939 when circumstances dictate that Albert must become King (his brother Edward, stepping down from the throne to continue a scandalous romp with twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson). And with Hitler making noise in Germany, Lionel would give an unsure Albert the confidence, the loyalty, & the voice he needed to command a worldwide audience through WWII.
You see, back in the new age of radio, & during wartime, figure heads were expected to make grand, rousing speeches to the public. They needed reassurance from their King. And Albert had trouble speaking privately (to his children, including current Queen Elizabeth), no less publically. Watching Albert (via Colin Firth) grow in confidence, & grow into the position that he was thrust into (King), makes for a thoroughly enjoying movie-going experience. And the climactic speech is filmed in such a way as to uplift us, as well as to highlight the staggering performances (Firth's soaring vocal assertions, Geoffrey Rush's silent, but warm guidance, & Helena Bonham Carter's tearful realization that - yes, her husband just may make it through the most important speech of England's early-20th century).
'The King's Speech' shows us that even royalty have their emotional obstacles & feelings in inadequacy (ailments or not). It's a serious character study, but one that is also punctuated by wonderful moments of wit & humor. We learn about a little-known sliver of British history. And the film highlights a remarkable friendship (I loved seeing Firth's early cantankerousness subdued by Rush's cracking of the whip, so to speak). Tom Hooper directs with beautiful restraint; balancing Albert's fear of the spotlight with England's uncertainties in the face of WWII. I also like the way in which microphones are filmed; magnified, hanging from a wire like an albatross around Albert's neck. He sees one and clams up ... so we clam up. Credit to the cinematographer for that trick; and for how the whole film looks.
Colin Firth could have won the Oscar last yr. for A Single Man, & I hope he gets it this year; he deserves it for making Albert come across as a smart, dutiful, but tortured soul whose quality is finally able to emerge once he can articulate. Geoffrey Rush is superb as the forthright, yet amiable speech teacher who imparts his confidence to Albert. The chemistry btwn. he & Firth is wonderful. I also enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter very much (her chemistry with Firth is also charming). HBC brings her usual quick-spoken wit to the table. But in this straight role (far from her wackadoo turns in Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, & The Harry Potters), she imparts great care, concern, & humanity, as well. In some ways, it's the perfect supporting performance. And the stellar ensemble cast: Derek Jacobi (as the crabby Archbishop), Jennifer Ehle, Claire Bloom, & Timothy Spall (as Churchill) - all add to the refined texture of the film.
If I have any issue with 'The King's Speech', it's that the first 15-20 min. failed to grab me. I felt like I was fighting negative impulses early on. But by the time the 110 min.-long film was over, I had completely fallen for it; smiling & wiping away tears {of course}. The movie is impeccably acted, written & adorned (1920/30's art direction, Jenny Beavan's beautiful costumes, Alexandre Desplat's light musical score). And it is both life-affirming & heartfelt without being overly sentimental. I love this brand of old-school storytelling; and could watch the movie all over again it, right now. 'The King's Speech' isn't deep or thematically rich. But it's still a sublime little historical drama & a quietly potent character study that should move you, make you laugh, & please viewers of all ages.
In '34, the King becomes afflicted with pneumonia, & Albert's insipid older brother Edward (Guy Pearce), is positioned to take the throne. Meanwhile, the Duchess of York (Helena Bonham Carter), unwavering in support for her husband Albert, is increasingly upset at seeing him suffer through speech treatments that fail to work. That is until she is referred to Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian actor-turned-speech therapist known for, shall we say, unorthodox methods. When Albert is brought to Logue, he is initially uncomfortable with both his methods & his informality; such as referring to the Prince as 'Bertie' (his family nickname) - but they build a working relationship. Lionel's importance in the Prince's life escalates by 1939 when circumstances dictate that Albert must become King (his brother Edward, stepping down from the throne to continue a scandalous romp with twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson). And with Hitler making noise in Germany, Lionel would give an unsure Albert the confidence, the loyalty, & the voice he needed to command a worldwide audience through WWII.
You see, back in the new age of radio, & during wartime, figure heads were expected to make grand, rousing speeches to the public. They needed reassurance from their King. And Albert had trouble speaking privately (to his children, including current Queen Elizabeth), no less publically. Watching Albert (via Colin Firth) grow in confidence, & grow into the position that he was thrust into (King), makes for a thoroughly enjoying movie-going experience. And the climactic speech is filmed in such a way as to uplift us, as well as to highlight the staggering performances (Firth's soaring vocal assertions, Geoffrey Rush's silent, but warm guidance, & Helena Bonham Carter's tearful realization that - yes, her husband just may make it through the most important speech of England's early-20th century).
'The King's Speech' shows us that even royalty have their emotional obstacles & feelings in inadequacy (ailments or not). It's a serious character study, but one that is also punctuated by wonderful moments of wit & humor. We learn about a little-known sliver of British history. And the film highlights a remarkable friendship (I loved seeing Firth's early cantankerousness subdued by Rush's cracking of the whip, so to speak). Tom Hooper directs with beautiful restraint; balancing Albert's fear of the spotlight with England's uncertainties in the face of WWII. I also like the way in which microphones are filmed; magnified, hanging from a wire like an albatross around Albert's neck. He sees one and clams up ... so we clam up. Credit to the cinematographer for that trick; and for how the whole film looks.
Colin Firth could have won the Oscar last yr. for A Single Man, & I hope he gets it this year; he deserves it for making Albert come across as a smart, dutiful, but tortured soul whose quality is finally able to emerge once he can articulate. Geoffrey Rush is superb as the forthright, yet amiable speech teacher who imparts his confidence to Albert. The chemistry btwn. he & Firth is wonderful. I also enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter very much (her chemistry with Firth is also charming). HBC brings her usual quick-spoken wit to the table. But in this straight role (far from her wackadoo turns in Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, & The Harry Potters), she imparts great care, concern, & humanity, as well. In some ways, it's the perfect supporting performance. And the stellar ensemble cast: Derek Jacobi (as the crabby Archbishop), Jennifer Ehle, Claire Bloom, & Timothy Spall (as Churchill) - all add to the refined texture of the film.
If I have any issue with 'The King's Speech', it's that the first 15-20 min. failed to grab me. I felt like I was fighting negative impulses early on. But by the time the 110 min.-long film was over, I had completely fallen for it; smiling & wiping away tears {of course}. The movie is impeccably acted, written & adorned (1920/30's art direction, Jenny Beavan's beautiful costumes, Alexandre Desplat's light musical score). And it is both life-affirming & heartfelt without being overly sentimental. I love this brand of old-school storytelling; and could watch the movie all over again it, right now. 'The King's Speech' isn't deep or thematically rich. But it's still a sublime little historical drama & a quietly potent character study that should move you, make you laugh, & please viewers of all ages.