The King's Speech: Movie Review

The King's Speech: Movie Review

The King's Speech
Rating: 9/10
Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham-Carter, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall
Director: Tom Hooper
Here comes the early contender for Oscar glory - and rightly so (and it's already been lavished with plenty of pre award season nominations.)
Colin Firth stars as Prince Albert aka the soon to be King George VI, who's crippled by a stammer. With the health of his father failing and the second World War looming, his wife Elizabeth (Bonham Carter) decides Bertie needs help.
So, after doctors fail him and other therapists come up short, she finds a potential salvation in the shape of Aussie Lionel Logue (a brilliant Geoffrey Rush), an alternative and maverick therapist.
After a slightly dodgy start to their relationship, Bertie and Logue begin to work together in unusual ways to overcome the problem.
But with the death of his father, the forced abdication of Edward and the looming Second World War, Bertie soon finds it'll be his words which will inspire the Commonwealth.
However, it's those words which don't appear to be coming any time soon.
The King's Speech is, quite simply, marvellous.
A brilliant crowd pleaser, with a script liberally peppered with dry wit and humour, along with some stunning turns from Firth and Rush, it's a riveting watch from beginning to end.
Colin Firth will be a shoo in for some form of glory with this performance (although as ever, early buzz sometimes cripples the front runners) but his role as the monarch to be is mesmerizingly good. The frustration Albert clearly feels in his inability to speak is etched perfectly on his face - and not once do you feel Firth is over egging the role. In fact, it's his restrained turn that may have you doubled with nerves as you will him to speak every single word when he's struggling.
Throw in the great laid back and human performance of Geoffrey Rush and it's a brilliant double act which will entertain in ways you couldn't possibly imagine on screen.
Bonham-Carter and Spall are equally as good as the Queen Mum and Churchill. Bonham-Carter particularly brings the mischievous twinkle in the Queen Mum's eye vividly to life.
But it's Firth who effortlessly commands the screen in this - you won't believe how much you've emotionally invested in the build up to one man delivering a speech.

Simply the first unmissable crowd pleasing film of 2011, which will leave you lost for words.