Before the rise of World War II, King George VI (Colin Firth) has just stepped into power after the abdication of his brother. To the country, his image is not a good one due to a stammer he’s had since childhood which makes for public speaking to be a challenge. His wife (Helena Bonham Carter) therefore hires Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) a speech therapist who’s said to have unorthodox but successful teaching methods. Readying to be the voice of his nation, George, or “Bertie” has he’s called by family, works to make sure he earns his crown.
Director Tom Hooper assembles a delightful cast, with the three main actors feeling right at home in their roles. Colin Firth brings a royal demeanour to everything he does but works with such fragile nerves that are examined throughout. At his side is the perfect match of the wonderful Helena Bonham Carter, who maintains a warm classiness that you’ll never get enough of.
But it’s through Geoffrey Rush that the movie’s charm is captured. The peculiar Logue is a wise, and yet still wise-cracking counterpart against Bertie, trying to stand as his equal. His role is a speech therapist, but he’s practically an unofficial royal counsellor wanting to bring up George’s confidence in the middle of these political and family whirlwinds.
The story documents the tale of George’s ascension into kinghood and his road into accepting the responsibilities he’s prepared for all his life, but almost never had to use. The film’s production value has marvellous camera work to capture the nervousness of the main character and widens the scope to show just how far George’s voice is meant to travel. Filled with classy performances everywhere, including Timothy Spall in a surprisingly dead-on portrayal of Winston Churchill, The King’s Speech closes in on something history heard but never saw before.
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