Colin Firth stars as King George VI in this Oscar-winning biographical drama. George has struggled all his life with a debilitating stammer that prevents him from being the public persona he strives to be. After years of meeting every known speech therapist, George has all but given up on public speaking. But after his father dies and his older brother resigns, the crown falls on King George and he is unwillingly thrust into the spotlight. Desperately, he turns to an unknown Australian doctor, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), whose unorthodox methods clash with King George's stuffy manner. But soon, they start to see results, and a unique bond is formed between doctor and patient as George slowly gains confidence in himself. The film tells the simple and sweet true story of a famous person tackling a seemingly impossible obstacle and coming out the other side victorious. The real showcase here is the superb acting by Oscar-winning actors Rush and Firth (who picked up a golden statuette for his performance). The pair have amazing chemistry and beautifully portray the unlikely friendship between a king and his speech therapist. Helena Bonham Carter also turns in a surprisingly demure and delightful performance as the king's wife. The story and the directing themselves are pretty much of average, made-for-TV caliber, but the acting definitely elevates the material. In my opinion, there were other films last year more worthy of the Best Film Academy Award than "The King's Speech", but in no way did that detract from my enjoyment of this triumphant and inspirational tale.
4 out of 5 stars
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