The King's Speech (2010)

Please win Best Picture.

           It's not too often in Tennessee that you get to see a film of "limited release," let alone one that's devoid of any Fundamentalist Christian propaganda. That's why I nearly did a backflip upon the realization that The King's Speech was playing at one of the local cinemas. I mean, I'm not normally into the artsy, Oscar-pandling movies, but it was between that, Gulliver's Travels, and Little Fockers. The choice was clear.
           I walked into the theatre to find that it was packed with old people. My dad had to sit in one of the few available up-close-and-personal seats. I was probably the only person there under 40. But worry not, my friends--I didn't let the old people depress me. I simply did what the rest of society does best: ignore the elderly.
           Now that the stage has been set, let the review begin. The King's Speech is a period piece about King George VI of England (played by Colin Firth), who struggled with a severe stammer all his life. To make matters worse, his reign takes place during the onset of World War II, the days of Churchill (played by Timothy Spall), Hitler, and classy people who wore hats indoors. His wife, Elizabeth (played by Helena Bonham Carter), seeks the help of an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), a failed actor from Australia, with whom King George forms a deep friendship.
          This was, quite possibly, one of my favorite films of 2010. It's near-perfection. Don't believe me? How dare you! Take this enumerated list, stick it in your pipe, smoke it, and then put it into consideration.

1. THE ACTING is freakin' fantastic. Colin Firth excellently plays King George (nicknamed "Bertie" by Lionel Logue) as a shy, frustrated man. And it's brilliant. You would expect to be annoyed by a character who constantly stammers, but the character is so well played that you begin to forget that he has any kind of impediment. You also wouldn't expect Timothy Spall (aka Wormtail from the Harry Potter series) to play a convincing Churchill, but you'll be surprised. (Honestly? The only work that guy can find is Wormtail?) Helena Bonham Carter does an excellent job as Elizabeth. The first time I saw her on screen I thought "Okay. She's just going to be a cheerleader who stops in about every 5 minutes. I don't need to worry about her." But she really brings a lot to a role that any other actress would've just made a minor, forgettable supporting role. Last, but certainly not least, Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue is absolutely great. He's eccentric, but not cartoonish, as most actors would easily mistake. He brings a great deal of energy to this role that makes him one of the best characters in the entire movie.
2. THE STORY is, as most would complain, predictable. They'd be right. It's predictable as hell. You know from the second you see Colin Firth give his first speech that he's going to overcome his impediment. I normally agree with the predictability complaint when it comes to original screenplays, but this is a historical piece, so I can't really understand where that's a valid complaint. Sorry if real life is a little predictable, people. M. Night Shyamalan doesn't write the history books. Although, that would explain a little about how Bruce Willis was dead the whole time during the War of Jenkins' Ear. Predictability is unavoidable in some cases, and in this one, it works. You end up cheering for King George like a Loyalist in 1776. (Yes, I know this movie wasn't set in 1776.) The story is a damn good one about a man who has power and responsibility thrust upon him after his father's death and brother's refusal to accept the kingship and during a time of great difficulty for his nation. I normally mark ailments/defects/impediments as faulty devices from which to create a sympathetic character (see my rant about Theatre Kids), but moviegoers really feel for Bertie because his stammer didn't just come out of nowhere. He's a blacksheep. He was neglected and laughed at all his life. This isn't like those pricks from Rent complaining about how they're poor and have AIDS. (If this sounds insensitive, watch Rent and you'll see what I mean. Those are quite possibly the most annoying protagonists on this planet.) And you're happy that he's found someone like Logue, who just accepts him for who he is. To conclude, you gotta love rooting for the little guy.
3. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY is pretty good. There are a few shots that I don't see too often in movies like this. For instance, when Bertie is sitting on the couch in Logue's office, it captures him from about the waist up in the lower left corner of the screen, and the rest is Logue's trippy wall. I know I'm talking gibberish, but I found it kind of interesting. The rest of it is pretty well done. I constantly thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that they didn't over-do on the close-ups, like they keep doing with all these new dramas. I was very pleased with a lot of the lighting as well. It wasn't all the doom and gloom that, again, we see with a lot of dramas. It was handled well.

          If you can, please go see The King's Speech.


          Sorry if this post is a little dull, but it is a really good picture.
          Adieu.