"The King's Speech" Movie Review

Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech" is an obvious nominee at the Oscars in 2011. There are the magnificent performances from Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce and Timothy Spall. The emotionally triumphant storytelling from Tom Hooper and script from David Seidler. Along with Danny Cohen's riveting cinematography, Tariq Anwar's subtly brilliant editing and an undeniable sound team.

The true story of King George VI's speech impediment and subsequent friendship with speech therapist Lionel Logue is a perfect piece of historical reflection. Had "The King's Speech" been produced before our time of deconstructed media culture, it would have never resonated with audiences. King George VI was the last emperor of England, marking a turning point where the royal family became less ruling class and more celebrity.

This is even reflected in the film where King George VI, or Bertie for short, is told by his father King George V that the royal family has been reduced to "actors." They should be so lucky as to be portrayed by the likes of Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter, who plays his wife Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Their performances deal with the humanizing of royalty, the de-mythologizing of a King and his intimate flaws.

As the end credits so endear to Bertie, the King became a reigning symbol of national resistance during World War II. Though this would not at all be possible were it not for the unorthodox relationship and therapy of one Lionel Logue, played by the indefatigable Geoffrey Rush. Just as President Roosevelt (FDR) hid his polio stricken legs during his inspiring reign during World War II, Logue became the support that Bertie stood upon to inspire Britain.

"The King's Speech" is hopelessly predictable beyond being a true story, but we willing surrender to these splendid actors and characters. Colin Firth provides a depiction of Bertie like a frustrated boy fumbling to grasp acceptance of the King he is destine to be. Firth provides emotional chasms of silence that speak volumes of his despair and pensiveness. While "The King's Speech" is humanizing and strips bare royal pretense, it captures a historical drama where the world's fate seems to be hanging in the balance of each breath.

One of the most effective cinematic tactics in creating a more vulnerable King George VI is the intimate cinematography. Danny Cohen captures soft touches between Bertie and his wife, perfectly framing adoring and worrisome glances of both Bonham Carter and Rush. Cohen's sweeping camera direction and angles swallow Colin Firth in the Royal halls and palaces, then dives in putting us right as his back. Through the cinematography we feel Bertie's unyielding perception of insignificance and then his brave struggles to confront his destiny.

The skillful hand of Zac Nicholson as camera operator must be noted with the cinematography of "The King's Speech." A Director of Photography (Danny Cohen) rarely touches the camera on major film productions, especially epic historical dramas. Nicholson and Cohen worked with director Tom Hooper on his epic mini-series production of "John Adams" for HBO, notably the third episode in the seven part series "Don't Tread on Me."

Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, possibly even Helena Bonham Carter are a shoe-in for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Oscars. Timothy Spall relives his role as Winston Churchill, also playing the British Bulldog in the 2010 satirical film "Jackboots on Whitehall." Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and Timothy Spall were some of the hardest working actors of 2010, each appearing in multiple films.

There is a big possibility "The King's Speech" will garner a Best Picture nomination as well. The Academy loves historical dramas involving World Wars. Best Picture Oscars have gone to films like "Wings", "All Quiet on the Western Front", "Cavalcade", "Mrs. Miniver", "Casablanca", "The Best Years of Our Lives", "From Here to Eternity", "The Bridge on the River Kwai", "Lawrence of Arabia", "Patton", "Gandhi", "Schindler's List" and "The English Patient."
Though perhaps more deserving would be an Oscar for screenwriter David Seidler, who may have won for "Tucker: The Man and His Dreams" in 1988 had Francis Ford Coppola not done extensive rewrites. "The King's Speech" is certainly a culmination of many talents in one of the best films to grace the screen in 2010.