The King's Speech (2010)

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  May 18, 2012

  hellogoodby

  I'm just going to be honest and say that I don't always like to go see movies that make me feel stressed or sad. This may sound like a reasonable statement, yet people go everyday to see movies that are terribly sad and stressful and usually make you cry. These usually win Oscars... read more. You may be thinking, "what about feel good movies"? Well, these so called "feel good" movies are really a big sham. The make you feel so bad and depressed that you want to go home and eat an entire case of frozen yogurts while crying on the phone to your sister, and then they give you one tiny, little happy moment for the protagonist that you jump with joy that something finally turned out ok for that person. They basically punch you in the gut and then give you a candy. But sometimes I would rather just go and see a nice, relaxing film with interesting characters and not have to worry about having a heart attack from a shear overdose of drama in the middle of the theatre. The kind of film that you sit with your hands behind your head and a smile on your face while your watching. This is the kind of movie that "The King's Speech" is.
  
  
  
  Personally, I think the world really needs a movie like "The King's Speech". These days people seem to think that throwing your emotions over a water fall is the only way a film can be considered excellent. People seem to focus on the events surrounding the characters rather than the actual development of the characters. "The King's Speech" changes that. You may think that there isn't enough story to be put into a film about a guy's speech impediment, but the story isn't really whats important to the film. It's the characters that really make the film. Everything in the film is focused on bring the development of each character up a level. Rather than story being a series of events that distract from character, they are things that become parts of the characters and make them even more interesting. And these events aren't extremely stressful, they are actually interesting, something a few movies out now could learn a thing or to about being. But what really makes these characters interesting are the actors behind them. Everyone is talking about Collin Firth's Academy Award winning performance as King George the VI, but I think that Geoffrey Rush's role as Lionel Logue was just as good and maybe even better. he did a perfect job at portraying a regular everyday guy. The character wasn't anything special, but like every person he has his own special qualities. He also really brought out the interesting relationship between King George and Lionel. It made us ask questions about equality down to it's essence and what it really means to people. And of course, he was hilarious. At least 50% of the funniest lines in that movie came from Rush. He has fantastic comedic timing, but in a realistic sort of way that you usually don't find in comedies. It made the film generally interesting and pleasant to watch. Of course, Rush wasn't the only fantastic actor, the entire cast (which has 3 actors from Harry Potter in it, I might add) did a great job with the film. The only one I could think of being a problem was the guy who played Peter Petegrew in Harry Potter playing Churchill. He really overplayed the role, which somewhat surprised me because I didn't think that Churchill was a role you could overplay. But apparently you can. Still though, it hardly went noticed with the perfect formulation of the movie. Another thing I think should be noticed is the use of music in the film. In the final scene when they had the classical music playing, I found myself moving my hands like a conductor with the flow of it. The scene was like a waltz, except with words rather than feet. It is truly a fantastic film.
  
  I have heard people say that the film was a suck up for the Oscars. It was a period piece with British actors and based on historical events. But you know what, I don't care. I enjoyed it and thats all that really matters in the end. If you haven't seen it yet, then make sure to if you enjoy having a genuinely pleasant good time.

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• 
  
  May 1, 2012

  fb1463751009

  Every now and then, there's a feel-good film that comes along and what should be a cliche, dull movie, is far from that; "The King's Speech" is one of these movies; it excels in every form and does it with brilliant results. Yeah, its fixated on a familiar type of storytelling, b... read moreut at the core, there's a very sentiment narrative paired with such a cohesive package that the only drawback to such a spectacularly well-made film such as this is how it is TOO sentimental. Honestly, it isn't THAT sentimental compared to the likes of poppy teenage flicks; its not cheesy, thank God.
  
  An immediate stand out is the sublime, perfect cinematography and editing. There's plenty of AAA movies coming out nowadays that manages to pull off breathtakingly shot scenes 70% of the time, but I dare to say that "The King's Speech" has the same high quality 99% of the film's length. Amazing. How did "Inception" win best cinematography, I do not know... but I know "The King's Speech" deserved it in every way. Other stand out achievements include the terrific acting of Colin Firth's character, George VI as one who has a speech impediment, the rich, intricate screenplay, and a narrative that's so alluring that even though the audience may understand what will transpire within the plotline, they can't help but to be sensitive to the characters' developments.
  
  "The King's Speech" is a success in every way. It may be a little too Hollywood for some folks, but this is a Hollywood film reaching the highest caliber of blockbuster filmmaking with tip-top, best-of-the-best ensemble attributes.

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• 
  
  February 25, 2012

  blacksheepboy

  A fascinating period drama with beautiful dialogue and exquisite perfomances, especially Firth and Rush, who both shine in their scenes together. The relationship between the two characters is well developed and the last scene is absolutely marvellous.

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  February 4, 2012

  spielberg00

  Well-performed, well-developed period piece with an absolutely unnecessary R rating.

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• 
  
  January 20, 2012

  paulsandberg

  It has often been said that life is all about the journey, not the destination. In The King's Speech you have the cinematic equivalent to the bromide as you are aware going in what will transpire, and yet the getting there is so well put together that you end up cheering, even t... read morehough you knew that the king was going to succeed in giving the speech.
  
  What prevails here is the sure hand of director Tom Hooper and the top notch acting of not just the main actors, but all the supporting cast as well. The gist of the story, in case you've been in a coma the past year, is that the Duke of York (2nd in line to the Brit throne, behind his brother the Prince of Wales), stutters. He has tried everything, at the encouragement of his loving wife (Helena Bonham-Carter), and just about everyone else - all to no avail. But then, just when the Duke resigned himself to his malady, Carter discovers a speech therapist with unconventional methods (a wonderful performance by Geoffrey Rush). What follows is a study of individuals with a lens on the class higharchy. Colin Firth as the Duke, expects a degree of decorum, which is the first thing Rush wants to tear down, stating "in this room we are equals".
  
  Really, the synopsis doesn't do the film justice; for every nuance is simply perfect and you end up rooting for both characters (whose goal is the same). There are all kinds of pertinent bits of history thrown in (including a tour de force performance by Timothy Spall as Churchill), as well as a dash of Rasputinism that is rebuffed by Firth stating that Rush has overstepped his bounds.
  
  The film really isn't a drama per se, as you certainly expect the end result, and yet it is more than a period piece and character study (as the characters don't really grow or change - just form a bond).
  
  I guess the best way to illuminate why the film was Oscar worthy comes from a simple statement made early on by the Duke: "as I passed the commoners in the street, I realized that I had no insight into their lives... just as they have none into my own". Indeed; and I suppose that the insight into the lives of royalty is part of the allure of the film, though certainly not its sole point of interest.
  
  In reflection, I am struck by the idea that the story is really an old concept, and in lesser hands could have been a bit of history/biographical sludge. That it rises above the mire is indeed a testimonial to all players involved, although I have a lingering thought that perhaps the gravity of the speech itself was somewhat overplayed - though I wasn't there and certainly don't have a finger on the collective psyche of the Brit populace circa 1940.

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• 
  
  January 9, 2012

  fb100000257973100

  As with a lot of people that happen to know me in real life, it will come as no surprise that I do, in fact, have something of a speech problem which causes very few people to understand me. The rest to not get a word I say. Plus, when I happen to speak in front of people, unless... read more those people are like family to me, the words I will say will be stuttered a bit and hard to speak. This is not nor ever caused by choice, but by how I was born and the life I am leading. The same can be said about King George VI in this wonderful film about his struggle to overcome his own speech problems.
  Watching this film, it is clear that Tom Hooper wants to stress the themes of courage, self respect, and power to overcome problems to an extreme amount. With this film, each of those themes is somehow present in one way or another. To be honest, it is a little tiresome, but appropriate for this film regardless. The other thing about the direction I liked was how he was able to make the character of King George VI (or Bertie as he is called in the film) more real and less like the idea of a king. When we think of kings, we think of them as powerful, huge, fearsome men that at any moment could have you killed. Here, Hooper as the king be played as a troubled, scared man who is just trying to deal with his life at hand. So, does he do a great job? No. But, for this film and what it needed, he done a rather exceptional job. The only other thing that stood out would have to be the influence of Stanley Kubrick that was used in numerous scenes. If you were to look at Kubrick's film 'Barry Lyndon', then look at this film, then other than the fact that these are both period pieces, the attention to detail in every scene plus camera movements are very reminiscent.
  In 2011's Academy Awards, Colin Firth won the award for Best Actor in a Film. Now, I have a love hate relationship with Firth. He has been in some decent films and some horrible pieces of crap that I try to forget. Here, I am shocked at the dedication he puts into his performance. Everything from how he speaks to his reactions are outstanding to behold. But the thing that makes this performance even more memorable is how much of himself he puts into this character. Now, I am on the edge if he should have won his award for this film, but out of respect for him due to his performance, I am just going to say that this was an award well earned. The other actor I need to mention would have to be Helena Bonham Carter as Firth's wife in this film. Think back to every film Carter has been in. If you do, you will notice that she usually portrays dark, villainous, and typically psychotic female antagonists or antiheroes. Here, she plays a character that is almost the complete opposite of that. Here she plays her character to be carrying, sympathetic, and above all else, filled with love. Seeing her in this role shows me more of her talent then any film by Tim Burton or any of the Harry Potter films can show me. She is truly a good actress and worthy of her nomination for Best Actress (lost out to Natalie Portman for Black Swan).
  The rest of this cast is wonderful. Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, they all do their roles with justice and power. Plus, how they delivered the dialogue for this film is a step up from your more recent period drama. Looking back on these costume dramas, the actors usually put on a fake accent, suck in a bunch of air, and then talk without knowing the full extent of what they are saying. Here, I love the acting because they show that they have an understanding of what is going on, the level of severity of the circumstances,
  For the rest of this film, I will say that from the soundtrack to the script, this is a film that knew it had an important message to tell and that the royal family would not be pleased if a mockery was to have been made on this piece of cinema. What is the message of this film? Believe in yourself and you will overcome any and all problems you have. They may not be gone, but they can be overpowered to an extent. This is a wonderful film and one that should be required viewing in speech classes due to what is shown in this film. So, closing this review, in the words of the DVD/ Blu-Ray trailer: All Hail The King!

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  January 7, 2012

  mmckellop

  When sitting down to watch The King's Speech, I came to it with a number of unfair biases. Not only was the film weighted down by the expectations of a film that won a slew of major awards, I also wondered how I could possibly enjoy a film with a forgone conclusion involving figu... read moreres to whom I felt no connection. That's not to say that all historical films are boring just because you know the ending, but the giving an important speech doesn't quite have the same resonance as the Apollo 13 crew making it back to Earth against all odds. There was a bit on SNL where Keenan Thompson (as Ghetto auteur Tyler Perry) mocked the film as having a conflict that only makes sense to White people. And while that's not quite how I felt about the film, its pretty close. Who cares about the trails and tribulations of another country's parasite class? Well, turns out I was wrong. By the time the credits rolled, I cared a great deal about King George VI and I understood why his was a life worth documenting.
  
  The lion's share of the credit has to go to Colin Firth as George. It the finest performance in a career of excellent performances. Firth plays the King, a reluctant monarch with a debilitating stutter, as a man with deep sense of duty and no idea how to go about it. His brother Edward (Guy Pearce) was supposed to the next King and after his unexpected and incredibly selfish abdication, George is thrown into his regency on the eve of World War II. Since the dawn of time, actors have played mentally or physically disabled characters as a quick way to get to an Academy Award but Firth never goes the easy route with his George. There are no magical cures for him and he never plays George's situation for laughs. He allows vulnerability but never lets you forget that he is of royal stock. He a man of deep repression and deeper dignity. Every public engagement is minor tragedy. The pain across Firth's face when he fumbles though a simple address at a race track is devastating. Critically he never overplays his internal turmoil. All of his suffering is in silence. His was the best leading performance of last year and is a must see for anyone who wants see what real acting looks like.
  
  As much The King's Speech is Firth's show, he wouldn't have been as great as he was without his supporting cast. Geoffrey Rush plays George's speech therapist Lionel Logue and he's also extraordinary. Rush plays Logue as a man fearless enough to tell a king that he's broken and arrogant enough to push too hard at critically moments. He offends easily and often and while his frankness is necessary to breakthrough the new King's lifetime of refined reservedness, he crosses the line once too often, forgetting his patient's station. This creates an interesting tension to a movie that would be otherwise be overwhelmed with mental health movie cliches. Helen Bonhan Carter is also good but in a narrower way. Her portrayal of of Queen Elizabeth is one of warmth and quiet devotion but little interior life. She was a good wife and mother but we learn nothing else about her in the film.
  
  The film is certainly an actor's showcase first and foremost but its also an exquisitely photographed film. Danny Cohen's cinematography is gorgeous. He gives the film the look of a classic painting, full of rich blacks and misty texture that feels period specific and timeless with the same frame. He's the English Conrad L. Hall.
  
  The film's script is smart and lively. It efficiently establishes its characters and settings without falling into the trap of being too reverential to its historical context. It's not only the story of the Royal family in the 1930's, its the story about how two very different men forming the most important friendship of their lives. It's about a man finding his confidence and nation finding its leader. Its that universalizing of a story so tied to specific time and place that won screenwriter David Seidler his Oscar.
  
  Tom Hooper won the Oscar for directing the film but he didn't really deserve it. Partially because he was up against Darren Aronofsky and David Fincher, men are plainly better directors who turned in superior works but even without them his direction never rises above good. He gets excellent performance's out of his actors and definitely knows how to compose his shots but there's never a sequence in the film that elevates the film above a well done episode of Masterpiece Theater. His work is too calm and unadventurous.He is man who is smart enough to surround himself with talented collaborators but he has a ways to go before you can look at one of his films and know that it is a Tom Hooper film. He has the skill and ambition he just needs to test himself with something out of his comfort zone. This is his The Killing.
  
  The King's Speech is not just a movie for White people. It's a movie for anyone who wants to experience some genuine uplift. It's a film of earned sentiment and resounding power. Its a film of grand sweep and hushed emotion. It's not the kind of film that you want to clap for but rather the kind of film that keeps you in your seat after the house lights have come on. It's film that won me over despite my deep reservations at its seemingly inconsequential content. Give it a chance and it'll win you over too.

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• 
  
  December 21, 2011

  fb619846742

  A wonderfully-told, very moving story about the Duke of York's (Colin Firth) rise to power despite him not wanting it, and the stammer that made him shy and embarrassed for most of his life, until he meets a no-nonsense, honest speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) who inspires him to... read more take on the difficult challenges that lie ahead. The reason this movie is so special is due to Firth and Rush, who both do a splendid job transforming a once uneasy relationship into a touching friendship. The backdrop of this whole story is appropriately uncertain, and what develops in the final twenty-five minutes or so is given masterful, meticulous care. This is one the best films of 2010.

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• 
  
  November 2, 2011

  aquateen2

  Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush succeed in giving there best and most worthwile performances in this very inspirational period drama. What was only a small problem that King George had thats barely worth anyone mentioning unless they're doing a pub quiz has been turned into a maste... read morerful piece of cinema that's right at the top of the dramatisation ladder. The Kings Speech posesses one of the most witty scripts of modern day cinema and its carefully chosen and very talented cast flawlessly make it what it is. A masterpiece of royal proportions.

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• 
  
  October 28, 2011

  scottgreen96

  I DID actually go to see this film in the cinema, I was not disappointed, everything about it intrigued me, no it didn't have any action at all but I knew that, I was there for quality, I got pure quality of acting and top notch drama.

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• Colin Firth as George 'Bertie' VI
• Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue
• Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth
• Guy Pearce as King Edward VIII
• Derek Jacobi as Archbishop Cosmo Lang
• Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill
• Michael Gambon as King George V
• Jennifer Ehle as Myrtle Logue
• Robert Portal as Equerry

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

• 
  The Queen (93%)
• 
  A Single Man (81%)
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  Shakespeare in Love (77%)
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  The Iron Lady (57%)

• • Queen Elizabeth: I intend to be a very great queen...to a very great king.
• • Lionel Logue: Do you know The 'F word'?
  • George 'Bertie' VI: F-F-Fornication?
• • King George VI: Listen to Me! Listen to Me!
  • Lionel Logue: Why would I waste my time listening to you?
  • King George VI: because I have a voice!
  • Lionel Logue: Yes you do.
• • George 'Bertie' VI: Fuck. Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck and fuck! Fuck, fuck and bugger! Bugger, bugger, buggerty buggerty buggerty, fuck, fuck, arse! Balls! Balls, fuck, fucketty, shit, shit, willy! Willy, shit, fuck, and tits.
• • King George VI: [Sees Logue is sitting on the coronation throne] What are you doing? Get up! You can't sit there! GET UP!
  • Lionel Logue: Why not? It's a chair.
• • King George VI: Because I have a right to be heard. I have a voice!

• Producers Guild of America 2010 Awards.
  Ceremony on Jan. 22 2011 Theatrical Picture  Answer »
• Producers Guild of America 2010 Awards.
  Ceremony on Jan. 22 2011 Theatrical Picture  Answer »
• 15th Art Directors Guild Awards Period Film:  Answer »
• 63nd Directors Guild of America Awards Feature Film  Answer »

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