Oisin Gregorian writes.
Whether its Gladiators sparring in the coliseum or a frail Hitler living out his final days in the Führerbunker, historical dramas often fail to disappoint. History when transformed into a film generally tends to be very accurate and detailed, thanks to a range of historical sources. The King’s Speech takes the viewer back to 1930s Britain, a country on the brink of war and a reluctant King hampered by an unfortunate speech impediment.
Prince Albert, The Duke of York (Firth), known by loved ones as “Bertie” has struggled with a stammer from an early age. The young Prince struggles to get many coherent sentences out. This is much to the annoyance of his father, King George V, who prides himself on his own speech being the first monarch to address his people over the radio. In order to overcome his stammer, his wife Elizabeth (Bonham-Carter) enlists the help of an Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Rush).
The King’s Speech was given limited release in the United States prior to its release in the U.K and Ireland. Through the scores of film festival selections the film has since gained wide recognition and has sent tongues wagging of a possible Oscar triumph for Firth, who has already been nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. This recognition cannot be denied as it is the central role of Firth that grabs your attention from very start. Firth masters his portrayal, from mannerisms of speech to overall body language. The dedication that Firth has put into his researching is top notch; you only have to look his throat, tongue and mouth movements in speech to be in complete awe.
The King’s Speech is backed up tremendously by an array of excellent performances by some of those best loved in British and world cinema. Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush throws Australian confidence and bullishness as Lionel Logue, quite the opposite from Captain Barbossa who grabbed our attention in recent years. Rush is delightful as the Shakespeare-loving Logue and will certainly appease your need for a chuckle. Helena Bonham-Carter has added another performance of merit to her growing repertoire as Bertie’s loving and loyal wife Elizabeth, known to many later in life as the Queen mum. Supporting roles from Michael Gambon, Guy Pearce, Anthony Andrews and Timothy Spall add a strong depth to the cast as various heads of state and political leaders, who all collide during what is turbulent times in the not only the country, but the world.
Director Tom Hooper and writer David Seidler can take alot of pride from this production. Shot in a variety of settings from houses and estates of Royalty to typical dwellings and strolls around London. Each scene is beautifully detailed and can take your eye on a wandering tour. Seidler has written a script that can be hilariously silly thanks to Logue’s unorthodox speech therapy methods which then transform into a place of confining, intimacy and discussions of deep understanding.
With Oscar season beginning to enter its crucial stages of balloting, nominations and eventual ceremonies, one wouldn’t be surprised if The King’s Speech isn’t among the big hitters. Few would be disappointed if the well-liked Colin Firth does indeed win the best actor Oscar. Should he win he will follow in the footsteps of previous winners who they themselves also portrayed important figures of those throughout history. Should The King’s Speech be an Oscar success it will only add to the ever growing successes of the British Film Industry in Hollywood’s own backyard, and there is very little harm in that. This is a film that can be enjoyed by all, and I will bet you a shilling that you most certainly will.
