The King’s Speech: The Film to Beat
Starring: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pierce
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Other Nominated Categories: Best Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Original Score, Sound Mixing, Original Screenplay
People love a good World War II movie, but what they love even more is a good hero. The King’s Speech has just that in this film about Britain’s King George VI as he struggles to be the shepherding voice for his country.
Set in Great Britain in the early days of World War II, The King’s Speech stars Colin Firth as King George VI or Prince Albert (Bertie) the Duke of York, as he is known at the film’s start. Bertie’s doting wife and future Mother Queen (Bonham-Carter) convinces him to see an unconventional speech therapist, who she believes will cure her husband of his embarrassing stammer. The prince meets Australian-turned-British therapist Lionel Logue (Rush), and the two begin to form an unlikely, albeit convenient, friendship when Bertie’s older brother Edward VIII (Pierce) chooses to abdicate the throne after their father’s death. Prince Albert, being next in line, becomes the king his country needs and the voice of a nation on the brink of tragedy. The speech that gives the film its namesake takes place at the end of the film, specifically Sept. 3, 1939, when war is declared.
I’m just going to lay it all out there right now, so everyone is on the same page. This film is going to win Best Picture. There, I said it — no need to watch the Oscars in a few weeks, folks. I’ve just spoiled it for you. But, seriously, this film is the “complete package.” It boasts exceptional acting (Colin Firth will most likely win Best Actor), an inspiring story, an amazing director, etc. (insert other positive adjectives where needed). Basically, this film is the film to beat. At 12 nominations, The King’s Speech holds the most of the year, and it’s sure to clean up in several categories.
As previously mentioned, Colin Firth will (probably) win Best Actor for this role. There are more things I could say about him, but I’m sure it would be nothing new to you. Instead, let’s look at Geoffrey Rush. For starters, he plays a spot-on Australian because he is Australian (surprise)! Was it just me, or did anyone else assume Rush was really British? But that’s beside the point. The point is Rush is not new to the Academy’s flavorful grasp of recognition. He’s been nominated four times: twice for Supporting Actor and twice for Best Actor, but he has only won once (his Oscar was for Best Actor in 1996’s Shine, in case you were wondering). I think he’ll have a hard time beating out Bale, who I’ve favored to win in the Best Supporting Actor category. But there’s no doubt that Rush entertains as the Shakespearean fanatic, the no-holds-barred, the not-altogether-there speech therapist. The film, frankly, would have been boring without him.
Aside from the Best Picture and Best Actor noms, The King’s Speech garnered another top nod for Tom Hooper’s directing. I think there’s a good possibility of him coming out a winner in this category, though the competition is tough to call. I do admire Hooper’s ability to play on a scene’s emotion by portraying the character’s feeling in a single shot. Hooper makes the movie interesting and builds the story just the right amount without being overly theatrical (I’m looking at you, David Fincher).
History is nothing new to the Academy’s slate. If you’ve read anything about this movie, you know The King’s Speech has been critiqued for some of its historical inaccuracies — the biggest being Edward VIII’s sympathies for Hitler and the Nazi regime’s agenda, which is never addressed. But screenwriter David Siedler knew the story and left this part out for a reason. The story is not about the political alliances of the Royal Family but of the personal struggle of the future king (and, perhaps, the personal struggles of the screenwriter himself). As a child, Siedler had a stammer as well. Listening to King George VI give his speech inspired him to overcome his own impediment. Siedler dreamed of writing this film long ago, but at the request of the Queen Mother, he waited until her death to proceed. To me, this personal history is enough to persuade many (if not most) of the Academy voters to overlook the historical mishaps and grant The King’s Speech the Oscar.
The Bottom Line: The King’s Speech is the film to beat and, despite its R rating, appropriate for most audiences.
SOURCES:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/King-s-Speech–The-film-to-beat-and-to…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/8223897/The-Kings-Speech-the-rea…
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001691/awards
http://incontention.com/2011/01/26/debating-historical-hiccups-in-the-ki…