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Review: The Kings Speech

Hotly tipped as one of the biggest possible Oscar winners next year, THE KINGS SPEECH has received fanfare the world round with screenings at San Sebastian, Toronto and London Film Festival’s and rightly so.

Director Tom Hooper follows his roll of biopic’s (JOHN ADAMS, THE DAMNED UNITED) with the story behind the Royal family leading up to the Second World War.  Colin Firth plays Bertie the future, and last, King of the Commonwealth, who suffers from a near debilitating speech impediment.  From this he is held back from Royal duties and has been subjected to years of physical and mental abuse from his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and  brother, the heir to the throne, King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce).

The film opens with an excruciating scene of Bertie attempting his first radio address at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, broadcast throughout the Commonwealth.  The total inability for the character is nearly as awkard as any OFFICE moment with David Brent.  With radio changing everything for the Royal family, public speaking has become an absolute necessity so his wife, Helena Bonham Carter, better known as the Queen Mother, turns to the last Speech Therapist around, Lional Logue (Geoffrey Rush).  Logue uses more than unconventional tactics, even trying psychoanalystic at times,  to help the Royal overcome his fears.

Through the many ups and downs of their growing relationship and the turbulence caused from the death of King George V, the abdication of King Edward VIII and the rise of Hitler, Bertie has to confront his worst fears taking on his Royal legacy and birthright to become King.

The film brilliantly brings to life a period drama in a new and refreshing manner, instilling the perfect amount of humour and drama and helping to humanise the Royals and King in particular.  Performances all round are Oscar winning especially between the three leads of Firth, Rush and Carter.  Seeing the likes of Carter and Rush in more realistic and fulfilling roles in recent years is exhilarating.  Firth’s portrayal of the short tempered and depressed King is his best yet, easily shifting from caring father to bullied son and brother.   The script is also outstanding, unsurprisingly since the writer, David Seilder, worked on the film for over 40 years, and I believe to be the top contender for Best Script at any awards.  Tom Hooper shows that he is indeed one of the UK’s leading filmmakers, and I hope will turn his attention back onto fiction in future projects.

The only faults I have are not directed at the filmmakers or any of the talent involved but that of the Royal mentality.  The irresponsible King Edward is pathetic in the film but, I believe, does the noble thing of giving up his Kingship for love but is shown as a disappointment and looked down on for his decision.  Also the idea of public image and the Royals actions because of it is at times irritating, especially with Carter‘s character who at times is supposed to be charming but comes across as snobbish, not that this is down to acting but that’s just the character.

Overall the film is a starling and warming film that is a joy to watch and is definitely Firth’s best film to date, with the actor going from strength to strength.  This film truly harks back to the ‘overcoming all obstacles’ type of films like FORREST GUMP and I urge everyone to see this film and I guarantee you’ll come out the theatre smiling.

THE KINGS SPEECH comes out 7th January 2011

Paul finished is BA in Film & Broadcast Productions during the summer and has somehow landed the position of Media & Marketing Manager in the London Korean Film Festival happening this November (plug). While at University Paul found his speciality lay in Script Development, scriptwriting and Editing. He has written, edited and director a small number of not very good short films but does not let that dissuade him from powering through. After the Koreans are through with him he looks to enter the paid world of Script Development. He likes incredibly bad horror films, East Asian movies, comics and lots of other stuff.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Pingback: “The Social Network” is Top Pick at Critics’ Awards | Hollywood News

  2. Pingback: Colin Firth, Tom Hooper and Michael Palin Discuss Stammers at “The King’s Speech” Premiere | Hollywood News

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