What does one do when you have everything, but the only thing holding you back is a stammer in your voice? When can we accept that all greatness comes from help of others? As shown in such movies like Good Will Hunting and Ordinary People, sometimes it takes someone to take us out of our comfort zone to help us find who we are, and to obtain the success destined to have. So the question is if the King Speech is worth the quest to see King George IV find his success? The answer is yes, from the beginning of the film till the movie ends.
King Speech is directed by Tom Hooper (John Adams series), about the King George VI played by Colin Firth (A Single Man, Mamma Mia!) who developed a speech stammer at a small age which makes it difficult for him to speak. It is a big deal since he is the son of the King George V played by Michael Gambon (Harry Potter series, Fantastic Mr. Fox). In the brief interaction with his father, there was a sense of frustration and disappointment in his father’s relationship, not only with “Bertie” AKA the King George VI, but also with his elder son Edward played by Guy Pearce (Memento, The Hurt Locker) who neglects his responsibilities to being the original next heir to the throne to King George V.
Bertie received helped from with lovely wife Queen Elizabeth played by Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland, Sweeney Todd); she was the one who made the personal search to find the right doctor to help fix her husband’s stammer. She came across a doctor named Lionel Logue played by Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean, Shine) who was a little less ordinary in his methods than the prior doctors Bertie had gone to. In fact, I would say his methods got under Beartie’s skin more than once throughout the film.
As the story continues, the audience understands the issues of class between Royals and Commoners, it becomes a more interesting a tale of perseverance and hard work, to the point that this story leaves you wanting more.
I must admit, when entering into the theatre to watch this film, I was hesitating in the fact that I didn’t know what kind of film I was going to see. The plot seems simple, yet once the movie started, the simple plot comes to be a roller coaster ride into the life and mind of Firth’s character. Colin Firth deserves the Oscar node for his performance for Best Actor. The interaction between Firth and Rush was so fun to watch. It was like watching two teenagers and had a similar relationship that you saw between Sherlock and Watson in movie Sherlock Holmes.
Don’t let the R rating keep you from seeing this film. It is due to the use of the “F-word” being used in a couple of scenes. It is used in context and not like the movie Goodfellas, where it is used in the common conversation. It is a very wholesome and proper film.
The King’s Speech really shows that even a King has imperfections and needs a friend. It is amazing to see how one’s weakness can keep someone from extreme greatness. I recommend this movie to everyone and anyone who needs inspiration to overcome their flaws and/or weaknesses in life.
If you Like this film I recommend:
Good Will Hunting
Ordinary People
There Will Be Blood (2007)