With the award season just around the corner, there's a lot of talk in the world of cinema about which releases will be the front-runners. Some are saying The Social Network while others are arguing True Grit. However, there's one movie that already seems to be at the front of the pack: The King's Speech
Friday 22 October 2010
FILM CHALLENGE: 159) The King's Speech
Added Jan 6, 2010,
159) The King's Speech
Director: Tom Hooper
Year: 2010
Plot Summary: After his brother abdicates, Bertie, the Duke Of York, reluctantly assumes the throne as King George. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, he engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, they attempt to find his voice which will boldly lead the country through war.
Set in 1930s England, Colin Firth stars as the Bertie, the Duke Of York, the next in line for the throne after his rebellious brother turns down the position in order to marry a recently divorced woman. However, as his father, the King, becomes increasingly ill and he is forced to step up, he feels unable to perform the duties of King because of a speech defect and seeks help from a doctor Lionel Logue.
The movie manages to give a great insight into the responsibilities of being a monarch in this era. Firstly, it shows how, with the invention of the radio and the increased use of cameras, the monarch can no longer just remain a name; he must have a face and, as The King's Speech makes a lot of emphasis on, a voice in order to lead the nation. Especially as the country, and the narrative, builds up to war with Germany. While the characters are unaware of what lies around the corner, the screenplay from David Seidler brilliantly drops references and information into the story allowing the viewer to recognise what is coming.
But, moreover, The King's Speech is a wonderful look into the man who would become King George VI. As Lionel attempts to uncover the root of his stammer, the soon-to-be King becomes a tremendously sympathetic protagonist, giving a human face to a role that is so commonly two-dimensional.
Colin Firth, furthermore, does an unbelievable job in bringing that to the big screen in a performance just as good as A Single Man. While many actors would just stammer through their lines, Firth instead manages to merge the defect with a heartbreaking portrait of a troubled and frightened human being. A scene in which he opens up to Logue about the isolated existence of being a son of the King, explaining how the doctor is the only "normal" person he's met, is worthy of an Oscar in itself. And if you're still not convinced, then certainly his response to Lionel's later comment "what are friends for?" with a heartbreaking "I wouldn't know" will seal it.
As well as being a moving story of how Lionel helps Bertie to face his stammer and the heartwarming friendship that was made between the two, The King's Speech is also a surprisingly funny movie with many of the exchanges between Lionel and Bertie generating a roar of laughter and applause from the audience. It's also terrifically well made with fantastic cinematography, a beautiful score from Alexandre Desplat and some striking production and art design throughout.
It's not a work of high art by any means. It doesn't have the subtext of a work like Another Year, touch on important issues like Lebanon, or have the depth of something like The Social Network. And yes, it is a bit predictable and does push all the buttons that other Oscar dramas have done many times before. However, as a classic, middle-of-the-road drama The King's Speech is as heartwarming, funny, touching and enjoyable a release as you're going to find in 2010.
4/5
2 comments:
You may wanna give this a once over for mistakes, etc. But sounds like a pretty good film, if not special. Can you see people finding personal connection to it? Would you feel it was a waste of a win if it takes Best Picture?
No, it's nothing special at all, but I was moved by it and felt very uplifted upon leaving the cinema so I suppose it fulfilled its duties.
Yeah, I'm sure a lot of people will feel a connection with it. As Bertie really becomes determined to fights the stammer knowing that he must make a hugely important speech as war becomes inevitable, and as his therapist does everything to help his friend, it does become quite powerful stuff.
It wouldn't surprise me if it won. It ticks all the boxes of a film that could take it home. But, personally, I didn't think it's the kind of movie that will blow people away.
However, I heard some rave reviews from the audience on the way out, so maybe I just expected too much or knew too much before going in?
Oh, and I've tried to go back and fix some bad spelling, wording, etc. I wrote it in a rush on the train. :P
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