The King's Speech
3.5/4
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Jennifer Ehle, Timothy Spall
Rated R for Some Language
I've said before that there's nothing wrong with formula pictures, provided they're done correctly. "The King's Speech" is a case in point. There's nothing really surprising that happens in "The King's Speech." It's really a traditional buddy picture spruced up with strong characters, superb performances and top-notch storytelling. I'm not complaining.
Prince Albert (Firth) is a troubled man. He's got a terrible stammer, which would be more of an irritant except for the fact with the advent of radio, he's forced to speak in public. That causes no end of grief for him and his family. His wife, Elizabeth (Carter) is sympathetic, and determined to help him, but nothing seems to work. In a last ditch effort to find a treatment that will help, she contacts Lionel Logue (Rush), a speech therapist who marches to his own beat. Albert is reluctant; he's fed up with all the disappointment, but after an early and unexpected success, he agrees. But it isn't long before his brother, Edward (Pearce), abdicates the throne, which makes Albert the new king (much to his horror).
If nothing else, and there is a lot to praise about "The King's Speech," it's that the performances are peerless. There wasn't a better acted movie in 2010, and there hasn't been since. Colin Firth, an actor known for playing stiff Brit roles with a dry wit, sheds that baggage almost instantaneously. Albert, or Bertie, as he is called, is a man who has caved in under the pressure. With his father intending to make his children fear him and getting no respect from his brother, Albert is in a constant state of anxiety.
Geoffrey Rush has always been an impeccable and hard working actor, even in drek like "House on Haunted Hill". That doesn't change with his performance as Lionel Logue. Logue is the perfect foil for Bertie. He wants to help the man, but he's going to do it his way. Although Bertie is resistant at first, Logue is smart enough to know that the rigidity with which Albert was raised is what is is keeping him so tense. Logue is as much a psychologist and confidant as he is a speech therapist.
The supporting performances are just as strong. Helena Bonham Carter has never been better as Elizabeth. She's supportive through it all, and is a constant companion and helpful hand to Bertie. Guy Pearce is perfectly brotherly and intimidating as Edward. He loves Bertie, but is a bit of a bully to him too. Michael Gambon makes the most of a small role as their father. Also worth mentioning is Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill. He's a gruff man who is encouraging. Perhaps strangely, he's the character who stood out the most for me.
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of Tom Hooper's miniseries "John Adams." Sure, it was well acted, and the make-up was realistic, but the script wasn't very good and it lost a lot of steam once the Revolutionary War ended (the final episode was unbelievably melodramatic...sappier than most tearjerkers). Hooper does good work here. He uses lots of close-ups for two reasons: to study the characters facial features and to show how overbearing some "helpful" people can be in Bertie's view. The film is a little too long, however, and drags during the middle section. Still, this is a very, very good film, and the scenes that work (the majority do) contain real power and drama.
A word to the overly-protective parents:
As has been said before by nearly every film critic when "The King's Speech" was released, the MPAA gave the film an R rating because Bertie lets off a string of "fucks" in two scenes. Now I know you're wanting to keep little Johnny from hearing naughty words (but apparently you're perfectly fine having him see superheroes portray violence as something fun to do on the weekend), but believe me and every other film critic: the R rating is absurd. Believe me, the MPAA is infamous for its boneheaded ratings decisions, but this is one of the most egregious. Not only is it minimal, it serves a purpose (Hooper refused to cut the scene out and both Firth and Carter defended it). Please, take my word for it. Let your kids see this wonderful movie.
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Jennifer Ehle, Timothy Spall
Rated R for Some Language
I've said before that there's nothing wrong with formula pictures, provided they're done correctly. "The King's Speech" is a case in point. There's nothing really surprising that happens in "The King's Speech." It's really a traditional buddy picture spruced up with strong characters, superb performances and top-notch storytelling. I'm not complaining.
Prince Albert (Firth) is a troubled man. He's got a terrible stammer, which would be more of an irritant except for the fact with the advent of radio, he's forced to speak in public. That causes no end of grief for him and his family. His wife, Elizabeth (Carter) is sympathetic, and determined to help him, but nothing seems to work. In a last ditch effort to find a treatment that will help, she contacts Lionel Logue (Rush), a speech therapist who marches to his own beat. Albert is reluctant; he's fed up with all the disappointment, but after an early and unexpected success, he agrees. But it isn't long before his brother, Edward (Pearce), abdicates the throne, which makes Albert the new king (much to his horror).
If nothing else, and there is a lot to praise about "The King's Speech," it's that the performances are peerless. There wasn't a better acted movie in 2010, and there hasn't been since. Colin Firth, an actor known for playing stiff Brit roles with a dry wit, sheds that baggage almost instantaneously. Albert, or Bertie, as he is called, is a man who has caved in under the pressure. With his father intending to make his children fear him and getting no respect from his brother, Albert is in a constant state of anxiety.
Geoffrey Rush has always been an impeccable and hard working actor, even in drek like "House on Haunted Hill". That doesn't change with his performance as Lionel Logue. Logue is the perfect foil for Bertie. He wants to help the man, but he's going to do it his way. Although Bertie is resistant at first, Logue is smart enough to know that the rigidity with which Albert was raised is what is is keeping him so tense. Logue is as much a psychologist and confidant as he is a speech therapist.
The supporting performances are just as strong. Helena Bonham Carter has never been better as Elizabeth. She's supportive through it all, and is a constant companion and helpful hand to Bertie. Guy Pearce is perfectly brotherly and intimidating as Edward. He loves Bertie, but is a bit of a bully to him too. Michael Gambon makes the most of a small role as their father. Also worth mentioning is Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill. He's a gruff man who is encouraging. Perhaps strangely, he's the character who stood out the most for me.
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of Tom Hooper's miniseries "John Adams." Sure, it was well acted, and the make-up was realistic, but the script wasn't very good and it lost a lot of steam once the Revolutionary War ended (the final episode was unbelievably melodramatic...sappier than most tearjerkers). Hooper does good work here. He uses lots of close-ups for two reasons: to study the characters facial features and to show how overbearing some "helpful" people can be in Bertie's view. The film is a little too long, however, and drags during the middle section. Still, this is a very, very good film, and the scenes that work (the majority do) contain real power and drama.
A word to the overly-protective parents:
As has been said before by nearly every film critic when "The King's Speech" was released, the MPAA gave the film an R rating because Bertie lets off a string of "fucks" in two scenes. Now I know you're wanting to keep little Johnny from hearing naughty words (but apparently you're perfectly fine having him see superheroes portray violence as something fun to do on the weekend), but believe me and every other film critic: the R rating is absurd. Believe me, the MPAA is infamous for its boneheaded ratings decisions, but this is one of the most egregious. Not only is it minimal, it serves a purpose (Hooper refused to cut the scene out and both Firth and Carter defended it). Please, take my word for it. Let your kids see this wonderful movie.
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