Movie Review: The King's Speech

Currently reading: Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Most recently watched movie: Batman Begins
Current favorite quote: "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!" -Dory from Finding Nemo (I love love LOVE Dory!!)

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This movie just came out in late 2010, but it is one of the best movies of the year.

Starring Colin Firth as Prince Albert (later to become King George VI), Helena Bonham Carter as his wife, Elizabeth, and Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue, this movie has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards. It is a simple, quiet story about a man of great position and responsibility, whose stutter prevented him from giving encouragement to his people when they needed it. It is a movie about friendship and true love, about morality and respect for the age-old traditions and values. It is a movie lacking nudity, sex, violence, and crassness. Rarely does Hollywood hand movie-watchers such a gem.

(Note: May contain spoilers!)


King George V (father of George VI), is an elderly man with a problem on his hands. His oldest son, Edward (known as David to his family), is the heir to the throne, but he is an irresponsible, morally-lax playboy. The more steady Albert, George V's younger son, is his father's only hope. Unfortunately, Albert has a solid stammer that makes him something of an embarrassment to the family when he speaks in public.




Albert, however, has come to terms with his stammer -- somewhat. A pathetic stream of bumbling doctors has led him to believe that his stammer cannot be cured, but he doesn't allow it to prevent him from telling stories to his little girls, Elizabeth and Margaret.




Albert's acceptance of his situation has become what it is mostly from the support of his loving wife, the elegant Queen Elizabeth. Determined to find help for her husband, Elizabeth manages to find a man whose fine reputation as a speech therapist is not tarnished by his commoner status: Lionel Logue.




Lionel Logue's methods are "unorthodox", but he has a steady faith in his abilities to help those with speech impediments. His first session with Albert turns out rather badly, however, as Albert becomes increasingly frustrated by Lionel's quirkiness and odd questions. Lionel makes a bet with Albert, laying one shilling on the belief that Albert can read a few lines from Shakespeare without stumbling. Albert, incredulous, neither takes the bet nor wishes to read; but Lionel insists. He further places headphones on the Prince's head, blasting Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" in Albert's ear while Albert reads. Albert throws off the headphones in annoyance a few minutes later; but before he can storm out of the room, Lionel hands him a record with a recording of Albert's recitation of Shakespeare.




Albert listens to the record later, his curiousity overcoming his initial fear and doubt. He places it on the record player and sits down to listen. Loud and clear comes the soliloquy "To be or not to be...", read without a single stammer by the unsuspecting Prince. Next scene, Albert is again sitting on Lionel's couch.




Beginning with basic breathing and speaking exercises (such as tongue-twisters), Lionel begins working with Albert. Although at first their relationship as patient and therapist is somewhat superficial, Lionel begins digging deeper into Albert's psychological mindset. He says that no child learns to speak with a stammer, and finds out eventually that Albert's stammer and abuse from Albert's nanny started about the same time, when Albert was 5 or 6 years old. Although both Albert and Lionel make mistakes, their friendship deepens as they continue working together. It is ultimately Lionel who pulls the King out of his fear and doubts into confidence and peace. In the beginnings of World War II, in one of England's most critical hours, Albert is able to be the role model of courage and gentleness that his people need.


(Picture of the real King George VI and Queen Elizabeth)

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It is hard to find words to properly describe this movie. It is pure crystal. Do not let the R rating turn you off! The only reason it is rated R is because of a little bit of bad language. The S word and F word are repeated over and over, but I have to say that the context is actually rather funny. Lionel discovers that when Albert swears angrily, he doesn't stammer; so he asks the King to repeat all the swear words he knows. It is a brief scene, and not meant to be insulting or crude. I can think of many PG-13 movies that are infinitely worse, and should have been rated R.
Anyway, as I said, this movie is pure crystal. The pacing is quiet and gentle, and the acting is superb. It is a movie worth seeing over and over again, for it is beautiful, good, and true. It is one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen. Definitely makes it to the top three movies of 2010, in my opinion. ;)


Pax,
Lady Clare