The Kings Speech
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter
Year: 2010
Watched: 23/1/11
What the Fudge is it?
The story of Bertie (King George VI to some people), as he is thrust onto the throne. Struggling with a stammer Bertie forms an unlikely friendship with a slightly crazy speech therapist as he tries to overcome his stammer and lead a nation.
What I Thought...
I didnt know anything about King George VI or his brother or his stammer before seeing this film which i think was a good thing. Lets me honest as an Irish person who didn't keep up history in school how was i going to know anything. Some people will read this and think how does he not know about "the speech" but you can fuck right off i doubt everyone knows who "the one true freeman" is. Yeah thats a nerdy computer games reference and i am not for one second comparing it to a world war.
Can a film that revolves around speech therapy be interesting? It appears so. i found the whole film, its cast, sets and everything to be fantastic. I know it is easy to jump on the Oscar bandwagon (i feel Nolan should has got a best director Oscar, and Toy story 3 Best film) but as my little bracket bit just pointed out i dont feel the film should have done as well as it did.
The scenes with Lionel and Bertie are great, not only do they show us the unusual methods of treatment but they also act most like a traditional shrink session. It reminded me alot of the scenes from Sopranos with Tony and Dr. Melfi. The characters history is never written out in black and white but through conversation we begin to learn why Bertie is the way he is. it would have been easier and shitter to just use a flashback which is a credit to the script and direction.
Guy Pierce is great as the slightly childish and rough King Edward VIII. its also nice to see Helen Bonham Carter not play a punked up goth in a Tim Burton. She plays a very likeable and pretty humorous Queen Liz.
Overall
Worth its praise. A great film that takes something as simple as treating a speech impediment and makes it dramatic and grand.
5/5
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