The King’s Speech
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Sydney, 26/12/2010
Status: Behind by 4 films
While the extended fam went off to Middle Head to see the start of the Sydney to Hobart boat race, I snuck off to the movies (very much starting to feel the pressure of having seven films and just a week to go in the Reviewdle shenanigans). And I’m glad I did - The King’s Speech is a great film that sits high on the twin pillars of terrific acting and great design.
After the death of his father King George V (MICHAEL GAMBON, Harry Potter) and the abdication of his brother King Edward VII (GUY PEARCE, Animal Kingdom), Bertie (COLIN FIRTH, A Single Man) - a reserved but angry man with a stammer and the end of the hereditary line – becomes King George VI.
The monarchy is in disgrace after Edward’s womanizing and mainland Europe is getting dicey with communists and fascists gaining power, so Bertie really needs to step up as king and leader. What to do about his stammer, then? Bertie’s wife (HELENA BONHAM CARTER, Alice in Wonderland, Fight Club) employs unconventional Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (GEOFFREY RUSH, Shine, Pirates of the Caribbean) to help Bertie where everyone else has failed. The relationship between Lionel and Bertie is the core of the film, and both actors are tremendous.
TOM HOOPER’s direction is great. His previous film, The Damned United, was also a terrific story about a fraught and important relationship between two grown men – it’s obviously his great story-telling strength. The writing (by DAVID SEIDLER) balances the story of the nation with the story of the man and thankfully eschews condescending lessons about succession etiquette and whatnot (although it does fudge timelines and some historical facts). The dialogue - particularly between Lionel and Bertie - is snappy and often very funny. The design is brilliant too – lots and lots of charming 30s and 40s period detail to establish exactly the right mood.
You can keep your supermaxi yachts, I’ll take The King’s Speech any day.
