The King's Speech

The King’s Speech

Okay family and friends. You can tell the Oscars are approaching as I am more inspired to write these movie reviews.  I’m thinking about starting a blog, but that might require effort, so we’ll see.

            So this week it’s the King’s Speech.  A story based on the relationship of King George (Colin Firth) and his Speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).  I must confess that the idea of sitting through an English period piece was not my idea of an exciting afternoon (forgive me Carolyn).  They tend to be a bit dry and lacking excitement.  Usually I find them more visual feasts with unengaging stories (intellectual chick flicks if I may be so bold).

            The King’s Speech was a welcome surprise and a fully engaging story of a Royal stutterer.  As a foreigner, I had always heard the story of King Edward renouncing the throne for the woman he loved.  It always had a gallant or noble fairy tale sound to it.  If this movie is to be believed, it really was a tawdry affair that involved backroom politics and a King who put himself before his duties.  King Edward shirked his duties and handed the throne to someone who did not have the aptitude for it. Especially in a time of crisis with the approach of WWII

            Colin Firth plays the future King George.  A meek man whose nervousness causes a stutter so impeding that every public event is a source of humiliation which aggravates the condition even further.  Colin Firth is one of those actors that you see everywhere, but never really gets the credit he deserves.  This role really showcases his talent and I hope garnishes him the nomination he deserves.  As a Royal, public speaking is required and Colin Firth heavily captures the pain and anguish of a man forced to publicly demonstrate what he is woefully unable to do.  Every trip to the microphone feels like a walk to the hangman’s noose.  Despite his affable snobbery, you feel and sympathize every pain as he struggles through his speeches.

            This life would have not been such a concern as ‘Bertie’s (King George’s family name for him) merely was the disappointing second son.  The Kingdom was lined up to have the dashing, confident, and handsome  King Edward (Guy Pierce) to take the throne.  Unfortunately, Edward has had a glimpse of the wild life with an American commoner.  He becomes less concerned with his duties and obligations as he falls into the party life of a 3x divorced American socialite (quite a scandal for the time).  Making matters worse is that he carries on publically with the woman even though she is still married.  He shocks and causes scandal among the aristocracy of Britain, with public displays of affection and questionable parties with the foreign commoner.  Quite a different story from the one I grew up with.

            Helen Bonham Carter plays Queen Elizabeth (The future Queen Mother), with sympathy and heart.  You feel her love for King George as well as her pain as he humiliates himself in every public situation.  I know critics love her, but this is the first role (other than Fight Club), that I felt really showed her acting credentials.  She emotes great love and caring despite her English reserve.  Her tireless pursuit to find someone who can help her husband is heartbreaking.  Having exhausted all her options, she secretly approaches a lowly Australian (metaphorically holding her nose) whose unorthodox practices are her last hope.

            The final player is Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).  An eccentric speech therapist who, despite his record of success, has a modest practice in the basement of an old London building.  Elizabeth arrives at his office under stealth.  Her physical discomfort for being in that part of London and in that building, matched only by her discomfort of having to ask an Australian for help.  The crux of the movie is the awkward friendship that forms between these two men from different classes.  George, whose station demand that he keeps formality and distance, and Lionel, whose entire method of speech therapy demands informality and ease.  George’s awkwardness and snobbery is not mean spirited, merely what is expected of him given his role in life.  When Lionel asks what he would like to be called, and he responds ‘Your Royal Highness’, his discomfort is as prominent as George’s when Lionel starts calling him by his family name ‘Bertie’.  You literally see George wince every time Lionel calls him that.

            This movie isn’t merely a one sided commoner teacher changing the life of a Royal.  As George reluctantly grows closer to Lionel, the hardships of his life affect Lionel profoundly. Lionel grows to respect George.  He respects the courage and determination he displays and his sense of duty to his country. Later as we learn that Lionel isn’t everything that he claims, the true test to the bond of their friendship becomes apparent.

            This is an inspiring movie of friendship between two men that were never supposed to be able to be friends.  It has inspired me to want to learn more about that period which is probably the highest compliment you can pay a period film.

.

I give this: ****

I hope the Oscars don’t overlook this.

Colin Firth: Best Actor

Geoffrey Rush: Best supporting Actor.

Not saying they will win, but they should be nominated.