OSCARWATCH 2011 - The King's Speech

I have to be honest with you on this one, I thought The King's Speech was going to be really boring. I thought to myself: "A movie about a King with a speech impediment trying to give a speech?" Then I fell asleep because even the thought of it was so boring. But then I saw the movie, and it changed my mind completely.

I loved this film. Maybe it's the whole idea of going into something with low expectations and enjoying it that much more, but it may just also be because it's a great film. The acting is pretty incredible, Colin Firth playing the stammering King George, giving him the delicate balance between pretentious royalty and insecure soul that allowed the audience to feel for him. Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue, the unconventional speech therapist that not only helps the King overcome his stammering, but becomes a dear friend along the way. And Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen, standing by her King as he deals with his public speaking debacle. These performances truly draw you in, so that you don't just feel uncomfortable listening to the King stammer, you really feel for him. It's no wonder they all received nominations, and I think that Firth will walk away with the Best Actor statue (unfortunately for Rush, even though he was great in this film, I just don't think you can top Christian Bale this year).

As I stated before, the story itself is pretty simple — with the emergence of radio, public speaking was becoming a rather important skill for a King to have. Unfortunately for George, he has a stammer that makes a great impact on his ability to give speeches. As he takes over the throne, we see his struggle to overcome his impediment, with the help of a therapist. But the film itself is not just about public speaking. It becomes a story about the relationship between the King and his therapist. The transformation of this relationship from the beginning, with the King unwilling to submit to many of the unconventional methods of his tutor, to the end of the film where the two have formed a lifelong bond, is what really fuels this movie.

Firth and Rush play off one another very well in this film, giving us everything from humor to rage very convincingly. It is their chemistry that helps drive the film and make it as successful as it was. At first we wonder what will happen with their relationship, then we become amused with it, and finally are endeared to these characters as we reach the end of the film.

And speaking of the ending…yes, it's true - the culmination of this film is a mere speech on the radio. It's not anything flashy, it doesn't put any character in grave danger, and the speech itself was not even something that was well remembered throughout history. But that's the beauty of this film — by the time that speech comes along in the story, we are invested in the King and his plight. And I think that's a testament to great filmmaking.

So although in all the Oscar previews I'm reading people keep saying that The Social Network should win Best Picture, but the old phooeys in the Academy will probably go with the traditional, boring period piece because that's what they always do, I'm going to disagree. I think the Academy will award Best Picture to The King's Speech because it was a phenomenal film, with convincing performances, solid cinematography and a story that gets the audience invested in the outcome. I will be very happy if The King's Speech is crowned on Sunday night.

Rating:

5 out of 5 on the Marci scale.