The King’s Speech – An Alliance Films’ Release

http://www.weinsteinco.com/#/film/the_kings_speech

Release Date: December 10th

Rated PG for mature themes and strong language

Running time: 119 minutes

 

Tom Hooper (dir.)

 

David Seidler (screenplay)

 

Alexandre Desplat (music)

 

Colin Firth as King George VI

Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue

Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth

Guy Pearce as King Edward VIII

Jennifer Ehle as Myrtle Logue

Derek Jacobi as Archbishop Cosmo Lang

Michael Gambon as King George V

Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill

Anthony Andrews as Stanley Baldwin

 

©The Weinstein Company.  All Rights Reserved.

Colin Firth in The King’s Speech

 

Our reviews below:

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The King’s Speech Review By John C.

**** (out of 4)

On paper, The King’s Speech might have a limited appeal.  After all, this a historical bio-pic about British monarchy in the 1930’s.  This is the film we get, but it could be more correctly described as a wonderful story about overcoming social anxieties and disabilities.  It’s also the current frontrunner for Oscar glory come late-February.

 

After the abdication of his condescending brother, King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), George VI (Colin Firth) was next in line for the throne.  The problem was, he could not deliver a speech without stuttering.  After numerous failed treatments his wife, Queen Mother Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), sought the help of the unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).

 

Lionel insists they be on first name basis, and encourages George to let loose by yelling vowels out the window and, in one applause-worthy scene of inspired hilarity, gets him to unleash wild strings of profanity.  The point is not to cure him of his speech impediment, rather just to help him overcome the obvious challenges.

 

Colin Firth gives one of the best performances of his endlessly impressive career, brilliantly capturing the pain and personal suffering elicited by his stammer.  Geoffrey Rush is at least as good here as he was when he won an Oscar for Shine.  But it should also be noted that this is not just a man’s movie, as Helena Bonham Carter is perfectly matched playing the mother of our current Queen.

 

The cinematography is outstanding, with the actors faces often framed in the middle of the screen, and lingering shots of microphones to add a looming sense of intimidation.  The soundtrack is technically outstanding, perhaps most memorably in an early scene where George’s stuttering voice unnaturally reverberates through an outdoor auditorium.

 

In many ways, The King’s Speech plays like a great sports movie.  Even if we know the outcome, it’s still a powerful journey of cheering for the underdog.  It may be a historical drama, but it’s also a crowd-pleaser.  The final few scenes, where King George VI must deliver a publicly broadcast speech to lead his country through the oncoming second world war, are some of the most inspiring and moving you will see all year.

 

It’s been a few months now since I first saw the film at TIFF – where it picked up the People’s Choice award – and I’ve been buzzing about it ever since.  Heartfelt, emotionally connecting and sometimes hilarious, The King’s Speech is more than just a period piece, it’s also quite possibly the best movie of the year.  This is a triumphant film that deserves all the awards attention it will get.

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The King’s Speech Review By Erin V.

**** (out of 4)

The King’s Speech is based on the life of King George the 6th, who in the 1930’s struggled to take control of his speech and eliminate a stammer.  This was especially important, because of his requirement to speak publically.  The film’s tale is an uplifting and empowering one about perseverance in the face of a disability.  Plus, it’s a real crowd pleaser that takes you on an emotional ride all the way through.

 

Colin Firth fully embodies the role and through subtle expressions on his face we get the big picture of what so often goes unsaid.  The climax of the film, the delivery of a war-time speech set to Beethoven’s symphony No. 7 – II, provides a surprisingly moving and triumphant finish.

 

The acting from the three leads (Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush) is all awards worthy and the gentle string/piano-centric score by Alexandre Desplat is one of the top of the year.  If you’ve seen the stunning trailer, once you’ve seen the film, you will know it does not even begin to show how truly moving this film actually is.  This is easily right up there with the best of the year.

 

The King’s Speech is a film that takes place at the beginning of the second world war and could very well have focused on that, but it shows one man’s struggle instead.  It is a very humanizing portrait of royalty.  I think most of us have experienced the fear of public speaking at one point or another, so it is one reason audiences really connect to this film.  For anyone who’s ever felt the embarrassment of a struggle like this, (especially those who’ve experienced difficulties in speech), this film is a must see.  For everyone else, I of course highly recommend it as well.

 

The King’s Speech starts in limited release today, and opens wider on December 22nd.

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The King’s Speech Review By Nicole

**** (out of 4)

The King’s Speech takes a fascinating look into one man’s personal triumph over a very common problem: Disfluency.  This man happened to become King George VI.  Colin Firth is wonderful as King George VI, who was known as Albert while still only a Duke.  Even then, part of being in the royal family meant giving radio speeches.  This is hard when you are someone with a stutter.  Even telling stories to his daughters, princesses Margaret and Elizabeth, is hard when the words can’t come out.

So Albert’s wife, Elizabeth (Helana Bonham Carter), hires a speech therapist to work with him.  His name is Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) and he insists on knowing people on a first name basis.  Lionel works with “Bertie,” as he calls him, in some pretty unconventional, but ingenious ways.  For example, he gets Bertie to sing out words, yell vowels out the window and even let out a string of cuss words.  What is apparent is that Albert’s stutter is a combination of factors, including stress and social anxiety.

 

The most stressful time comes when Albert’s father dies.  David, Albert’s brother, initially takes to the throne, but when David proves unsuitable for the job, it is up to Albert to take his place as King.  Will Albert be able to deliver his king’s speech?

 

The King’s Speech is really moving.  This film about a king who has to overcome a challenge is such an inspiring story, that is no wonder it won the People’s Choice at TIFF.  Everything about this film is perfect.  The acting is believable and the score by Alexandre Desplat, coupled with classical music, is also really nice.  The King’s Speech is one film you don’t want to miss.

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The King’s Speech Review By Maureen

**** (out of 4)

Of all the movies I’ve seen in 2010, The King’s Speech has touched me the most.  This wonderful true story of how Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) helps King George VI (Colin Firth) overcome a debilitating stammer is touching, heartwarming and at times, really funny.  Anyone who has ever witnessed someone work hard to overcome a challenge will relate to this story.

 

As inspiring as the true story is, it’s the lead actors, Firth and Rush, who allow this movie to shine and make it really extraordinary.  Both men give Oscar-worthy performances, wonderfully capturing the bond King George VI and Lionel Logue developed as they worked together and became friends.  The movie also features one of the best uses of the f-word since Planes, Trains and Automobiles.  This scene, among others, is hilarious.

 

With a wonderful story, excellent acting and a beautiful musical score by Alexandre Desplat, The King’s Speech is a must-see.  History buffs will enjoy the historical accuracy and fans of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush won’t want to miss this one.  It’s not surprising The King’s Speech was chosen as the People’s Choice at TIFF 2010.  This is a superb movie worthy of more than one viewing.

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The King’s Speech Review By Tony

**** (out of 4)

As Queen Elizabeth II approaches her diamond jubilee, her late father George VI (Colin Firth) is mostly forgotten, unlike his popular wife the Queen Mum (Helena Bonham Carter), who recently died at over 100 years of age. As the opening scene of The King’s Speech painfully reveals, his obscurity is largely due to a speech impediment that made public speaking almost impossible. Following useless quack treatments by so-called experts, George had given up on a cure, which was tolerable as long as his older brother (Guy Pearce) was in succession as Edward VIII. Once Edward’s abdication became inevitable, the future queen sought the help of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an unconventional Australian speech therapist.

 

Though the stiff and sheltered George was initially put off by Lionel’s insistence on first name informality and a strict physical regimen, he gradually opened up with memories of his overbearing father George V (Michael Gambon) and patronizing older brother, culminating in a cathartic string of epithets that is both very funny and guaranteed to move the film up at least one level on the MPAA ratings. The film ends in a room shared only with a BBC microphone and Logue coaching him through his declaration of war on the Third Reich.

 

Though this is not an action film and it moves at a leisurely pace it is never dull. Beautifully shot with a classical score featuring Mozart and Beethoven, excellent cast, brilliant script and sharp editing both visually and sonically, The King’s Speech is not to be missed, guaranteed an enthusiastic ovation at every showing, and more at awards time.

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Consensus: With excellent performances from Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech tells an inspiring and triumphant story about overcoming social anxieties and disabilities.  Deserving of serious awards recognition, this is a must-see. **** (Out of 4)