The King's Speech [2010]

Wow! Sit down and get ready to be enamored by the best performance Colin Firth has ever done. Shoot for the moon the director said and Colin hit Jupiter. Beyond breathtaking, the acting was incredible and the story to boot.

Obtaining my degree in Speech Education, I am developing my taste for excellent acting and quality presentations. This film exceeding all of my tastes to a realm where I was left baffled and utterly speechless.

Colin Firth (King George VI) plays a stutter laden prince in a time when "the voice" was the source of unity and respect for England. Feeling pressured to fill his father's shoes and receiving no support from his hedonistic brother, the successor to the throne, George and his wife search for a gifted teacher who could help "Bertie" (George's nickname) conquer his speech impediment. Raked with pride and self-respect, Bertie found it more challenging to humble himself then overcoming his most obvious hurdle - his speech. His dynamic character tugs on your heart strings shifting you from sympathy at the beginning to love by the end for the prince and his blight.

Geoffrey Rush (Lionel Logue) played a simple but passionate speech pathologist determined to help the prince succeed. Not taking "no" for an answer Geoffrey Rush displays one of the best performances of his career. The dynamic nature of his inner struggle between respect for nobility and passion for philanthropy draws you in and helps you connect to his conflict on so many levels.

A truly fantastic performance by both leads and one that will keep you watching until the end of the reel.

A few things to note:

1. Language might be an issue. Due to the prince's speech impediment, he is inclined to use many vulgarities and obscenities in frustration and muscle tension. Although forgivable, this may be a deal breaker for some because the language does seem a bit extraneous at points.
2. No sexual content!
3. There are a few themes in this movie that would need to be discussed if shown to a younger audience. Physical, emotional, and verbal abuse are mentioned and sometimes seen in this film. Although not grotesque in their display, these ideas do need to be understood in order to fully grasp the beauty of Hooper's directing and Firth's acting.

Overall, a brilliant and mesmerizing film by which hope, beauty, and commitment are accurately displayed and restored in humanity.

Because of the amazingness of the acting, the beauty of the story, and the incredible cinematography, I am giving this movie a 5 out of 5 smokes (because coke is too mainstream).

Thanks for reading.

~From the library of J.B. Wadsworth