Oscar Nomiations: The King's Speech.

Every year, there seems to be at least ONE movie that meets all the specifications of a movie seeking awards, often 

refferred to as "Oscar Bait". Be it a gritty war film, movies dealing with important issues or British period pieces, the Academy always seems to favor these movies and producers try very hard to appease them. Sometimes the movies fall flat on their faces, while others work wonderfully and deserve the recognition.

 

The King's Speech falls into the latter.

 

In The King's Speech, we follow the tale of Prince Albert, Duke of York (Colin Firth), who has struggled his whole 

life with a stammer. His wife, Queen Elizabeth I (played perfectly by Helena Bonham Carter.. wh for the first time 

in forever didn't seem like an overacting headcase), finds him a speech therapist who comes highly recommended, 

Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a long series of sessions, arguments and endless self-doubting and struggles, 

Prince Albert begins to trust Logue and the two continue to work to help combat his stammer, culminating in a 

rousing speech before the beginning of World War II.

 

The greatest thing this film has going for it is it's cast. Every single actor in this movie deserves plenty of 

praise, and they all played very well off of each other. The chemestry and relationship between Firth and Rush was 

exactly the way that actors should act. It didn't feel like acting, it didn't feel like pretend... it really seemed 

as if we were outsiders looking in on a man struggling against himself.

 

Colin Firth did an outstanding job portraying a man who hates himself for having a stammer.. and never did it feel forced or overdone. Geoffrey Rush's taunting and pushing method of treatment worked wonderfully in showing that even those who were born into greatness can be brought down to Earth by their faults. Helena Bonham-Carter's talent is showcased very well in this film, as she plays the role of a woman torn between her royal duities and helping her struggling husband through his problems excellently. 

 

The cinematography was really fantastic.. with subtle lighting effects and excellent control of the camera's motion that really put the audience directly into the film. The smooth movements of the camera following the actors through tight, crowded spaces to give a sense of constriction, which eventually opens up as the movie progresses. The lighting, which gave off a grainy, old feel to the entire film, was a very nice touch.. and the scenes during King George's ascension to the throne, speaking before those in power were shot brilliantly.

 

The film's writer, David Seidler (who himself struggled with a stammer in his early years), did a wonderful job of 

taking a story about a man's struggle with a speech impediment and turning it into a man's struggle with himself, his family and realizing that just as his subjects need him, he needs his subjects.

 

Definitely worth seeing, and the buzz that the actors are getting for their performances is also deserved.