At the Movies: The King’s Speech

What to say about ‘The King’s Speech’ apart from that I went to see it, loved it and now want to see it again. The story revolves around Prince Albert (played brilliantly by Colin Firth), King George V’s second son who suffered from a nervous stammer and as a part of the royal family was expected to give public speeches when the occasions required it, and who after his older brother Edward abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, became king. Before those unexpected events took place Albert nearly gave up hope on finding cure for his stammer until his loving and supportive wife (Helena Bonham-Carter) comes across Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush in another award winning role) an Australian speech therapist and introduces him to Albert. What unfolds from that moment is a story about a good man who would find his voice and become a good king and another good man who helped him on his journey.

‘The King’s Speech’ is a film that has a big heart and its heart beats beautifully and rhythmically thanks to the pitch perfect performances and on screen chemistry between Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. Firth’s skeptical, reserved, resisting Bertie (as called by his family and Lionel) is a complete opposite to unconventional, relaxed, persistent Lionel and their, somewhat difficult at times relationship (that was to become a friendship) drives the film. There are so many memorable moments and lines in ‘The King’s Speech’ and the strength of this film lies in David Seidler’s script and fine direction by Tom Hooper. The film is impeccably art directed (Lionel’s rooms were shot in beautifully dilapidated former embassy of Sierra Leone) and styled (fashion conscious look out for Archbishop of Canterbury donning some damn fine trousers) and its score was composed by Alexandre Desplat delivering another fine, characterful soundtrack. The only thing that didn’t fit in this otherwise great film is Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill. A good actor but totally miscast, he stuck out like a bloated sore thumb. Apart from that ‘The King’s Speech’ works a treat, a film I am sure I will revisit in the years to come.

To see the trailer click HERE