The Advocate
Firth, Rush Make ‘The King’s Speech’ A Royally Good MovieFriday, March 18, 2011 By Andrew Fowler - Editorial Editor
"The King’s Speech" is the story of King George VI of England overcoming his stammer. That is the film by Tom Hooper in short. Although the topic may not sound entertaining to the current generation of moviegoers, the film is truly a masterpiece. The film opens with Prince Albert, the Duke of York, played magnificently by Colin Firth, stuttering in a speech at Wembley Stadium. This public event sends the duke’s wife, played by Helena Bonham Carter, in search for a speech therapist. After several attempts, the duke obtains the services of Lionel Logue, portrayed by Geoffrey Rush. The prince succumbs to Logue’s unusual tactics and personal questioning after he discovers that he didn’t stammer while reciting the soliloquy "To be or not to be." This opens the door to a close relationship between the two men. The troubles start to begin after King George V dies and leaves the crown to the Duke of York’s older brother, David (Guy Pearce) who becomes King Edward VII. However, David is in love with a twice divorced woman from America which is not accepted by the royal family or the government since the king is the head of the Anglican Church. David abdicates the throne leaving a reluctant Albert as the king of England on the doorsteps of World War II where a strong king is needed for the people to stand behind. This conflict raises hysterical and emotional interactions between Albert and Logue that are truly moving. Both Firth and Rush are their characters. They don’t appear to be actors. That is how real the Firth and Rush portray these people. Without these two actors the movie would not be the masterpiece and Oscar-contender it is today. They make the movie feel real, they connect the audience to the film, and they make the film a triumph. The acting was fantastic, but under the direction of Tom Hooper, every other aspect of the film is done so well. The editing, costume design, cinematography, sets, and dialogue are all done perfectly. The cinematography especially was good. There were these magnificent shots that made the film either huge or condense. For example when Logue is walking into Westminster Abbey to practice for the king’s coronation, the camera is looking upward at his face. However, these shot was tweaked just enough to capture the enormity of the event. Simple camera angles make the audience feel exactly what the characters on screen are feeling. And what is most admirable about the film is that the speech, to all of England after war with Germany is proclaimed, is played in its entirety. The speech is intended to raise the morale of England when war is proclaimed against the Nazis. Listening to the whole speech reminds us all that even kings need help and with the help from a friend, we are all capable of achieving the impossible. It is the feel-good movie of the year. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush should both win Academy Awards and the film should as well. This is, without a doubt, the best picture of the year. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (Some information courtesy of imdb.com) |