The King’s Speech

The best picture of the year. And the best actor of the year. Colin Firth gives a heartbreakingly nuanced performance as King George VI, who ascended to the throne when his brother King Edward,  abdicated to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. You cannot help but feel his emotional pain every time he tries to speak. I found Firth’s skillful performance to be exceptionally moving. The camerawork in the film is also stunning, accentuating the essential loneliness that defined King George, the result of his lifelong stammer. A man, “a naval officer” who recoiled from any spotlight is thrust onto the world stage during an extraordinary period in history. The always exceptional Geoffrey “Shine” Rush is wonderful in an understated performance as Lionel Logue, the unconventional speech therapist who helps King George find his voice. Thankfully, Helena Bonham Carter is back in the type of period piece in which she excels after spending the last decade or more of her career essentially in wickedly creative costumes in the oddball films of her husband, the brilliant and eccentric Director Tim Burton. In this film, as Queen Elizabeth, Bonham Carter, in an underwritten role, brings a natural warmth to the film, always demonstrating her unconditional love for her husband and her unwavering confidence in him. The King’s Speech is not slowly paced, but because it is thoughtfully telling a worthy story, it is not for those seeking an amusement park ride.