The King's Speech

Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Michael Gambon

Dir. Tom Hooper
Scr. David Seidler

The King’s Speech, with its clever play-on-words title, is both an epic and intimate film, possessed of performances that deservedly have Oscar tongues wagging. Historically, it might take a few liberties, but only the most purist film-goer would truly let that ruin what is undoubtedly one of the films of the awards season and the year.

Set over the few years before and the few years after the abdication of King Edward VIII aka David (Guy Pearce), The King’s Speech portrays Bertie’s (aka Prince Albert aka King George VI aka Colin Firth!) struggle with a stammer that has haunted him from an early age. Enter his last hope, unconventional and Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), and a success story is born. Well, it’s not that simple, but that’s the gist. And not only a success story, but an odd and endearing friendship is born between a pupil who is King and a master who is a commoner.

What is drummed home and is important to grasp, is the power of speech at this time in history. The spread of radio into people’s homes was a phenomenon and, as Bertie’s father the King aptly puts it, turned the royal family into actors. Bertie’s ultimate challenge was to not only overcome his stammer, but to find his voice to inspire and reassure his people in a time of unrest and uncertainty.

This entire film really does hinge on the performance of Firth as Bertie and he delivers in a way that we have perhaps never seen before. Praise was heaped upon him for A Single Man last year, but his performance here really does show us what he’s made of – we never forget this man Bertie is royalty, there is no sappy lapse out of true character. Of course we see glimpses of Bertie as a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a friend. But this is about a prince’s and a king’s struggle and Firth nails it. I am a fan, have been since Mr Darcy days of course, but I didn’t quite think he had it in him. I was wrong.

While this is Firth’s show, he has some superb help. Rush is sublime, as always. Not just cocky therapist who thinks he knows it all, but a kind and true friend. Bonham Carter is wonderful as Queen Elizabeth (aka the Queen Mum!) and much of the film’s humour and grace comes from her performance. Pearce also nails the portrayal of Edward VIII which, in this film and most people’s minds I suppose, is a completely unsympathetic interpretation. Some criticism has been levelled at the bit players and their caricature in the film, notably Churchill (played with relish by Timothy Spall). But, really, come on people! I think it would have been stupid for him not to appear, but do we really need character development for such a well known figure? I don’t think so.

At the end, there will be few dry eyes in the cinema. And perhaps we, as an audience, feel manipulated. But I didn’t mind. The King’s Speech is beautiful to watch and a fine addition to both the genre of royal period pieces and buddy movies.

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King George VI: If I am King, where is my power? Can I declare war? Form a government? Levy a tax? No! And yet I am the seat of all authority because they think that when I speak, I speak for them.