Colin Firth is a fantastic actor that has delivered great performances over the years but his portrayal of King George VI may be his best.
The King's Speech is about King George VI as he ascends to the throne and is aided by speech therapist Lionel Logue to overcome his stammer.
With a story about British monarchs, The King's Speech does have that label of being an Oscar bait film. However, so many aspects of this film work so well together that it's hard to not to like it. Immediately, the best part of this film comes from Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. Colin Firth may have given his best performance to date as King George VI. Firth truly embodies the role as this monarch. His stammer is completely believable without ever feeling overdone, he has all the mannerisms a monarch would have and brings out so much emotion and vulnerability to the character based on the struggles we see him go through whether it's to do with his speaking or his family. He wholeheartedly deserved the Oscar that year. Supporting Firth is the excellent Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue. The relationship Rush has with Firth was so heartwarming and fun to watch. The initial struggle Firth had opening up to Rush to the eventual bond they create was played out very well. Guy Pearce did a good job as the difficult brother and Helena Bonham Carter was also really good as the supportive wife of King George VI.
The filmmaking to go with the fantastic performances was also outstanding. Filmed exquisitely with stunning visuals and angles, Tom Hooper's direction excels in every way. The costumes and production design mesh to create an accurate depiction of that time period. As much as the visuals are great, the screenplay by David Seidler shines in its own right. The dialogue along with the acting capture the personalities of each character beautifully. It's filled with moments of humour, sadness and optimism whilst remaining engaging for the viewer. I can see why this won Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars in 2011. What also stood out to me was Alexandre Desplat's score that compliments the scenery and adds to the emotion.
The King's Speech is a simple film that is executed really well and is a sure crowdpleaser. Aside from its predictability and blatant Oscar bait nature, it's a film with exceptional performances, well developed characters and a charming story that'll leave you feeling happy, motivated and optimistic.
The King's Speech is about King George VI as he ascends to the throne and is aided by speech therapist Lionel Logue to overcome his stammer.
With a story about British monarchs, The King's Speech does have that label of being an Oscar bait film. However, so many aspects of this film work so well together that it's hard to not to like it. Immediately, the best part of this film comes from Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. Colin Firth may have given his best performance to date as King George VI. Firth truly embodies the role as this monarch. His stammer is completely believable without ever feeling overdone, he has all the mannerisms a monarch would have and brings out so much emotion and vulnerability to the character based on the struggles we see him go through whether it's to do with his speaking or his family. He wholeheartedly deserved the Oscar that year. Supporting Firth is the excellent Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue. The relationship Rush has with Firth was so heartwarming and fun to watch. The initial struggle Firth had opening up to Rush to the eventual bond they create was played out very well. Guy Pearce did a good job as the difficult brother and Helena Bonham Carter was also really good as the supportive wife of King George VI.
The filmmaking to go with the fantastic performances was also outstanding. Filmed exquisitely with stunning visuals and angles, Tom Hooper's direction excels in every way. The costumes and production design mesh to create an accurate depiction of that time period. As much as the visuals are great, the screenplay by David Seidler shines in its own right. The dialogue along with the acting capture the personalities of each character beautifully. It's filled with moments of humour, sadness and optimism whilst remaining engaging for the viewer. I can see why this won Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars in 2011. What also stood out to me was Alexandre Desplat's score that compliments the scenery and adds to the emotion.
The King's Speech is a simple film that is executed really well and is a sure crowdpleaser. Aside from its predictability and blatant Oscar bait nature, it's a film with exceptional performances, well developed characters and a charming story that'll leave you feeling happy, motivated and optimistic.