As a movie buff every year you are lucky if you can see at least one or two movies that are exceptional.This is one. This is a quality movie to treasure and see again and again.
I have been wanting to see "The King's Speech" since before Christmas but it only came to Medford's Tinseltown last week. So today my wife and I went the 1:30 PM showing. Luckily we got there early. By the time the movie started the theater was almost full. It looked like they emptied out the nursing homes in Medford. It was a very old audience for this showing. I even felt young sitting with these folks! I do wish more young people had been there because this movie imparts the values that honor, duty and county are important values rather than the "do your own thing" value that became popular in the 1960"s.
The movie stars Colin Firth who plays the younger brother of King Edward VIII of England,who in the 1930's in the years leading up to the start of World War II, gave up his crown for the divorced woman, Wallis Simpson. When his brother gave up his crown "for the woman I love" his younger brother become King George VI of England and lead that country through World War II. The present Queen Elizabeth II, of the United Kingdom, is his daughter and is a young child in this movie. Unfortunately, King George VI had a speech impediment of stuttering that made it very difficult to give a public speech which kings are required to do in the modern age of radio and now TV. His wife hires an unorthadoxed speech therapist who helps him to overcome his speech impediment so he could lead the country.
Now, who wants to watch two hours of "speech therapy" not me. However, the movie is more about the development of a friendship between the crown prince, then King, and the speech therapist who is an Australian played by Geoffry Rush.
There are thus two story lines to this movie . The speech therapists story and the story of two brothers who are faced with choices in life and take different paths. What I find interesting is the different take on King Edward VIII. ( Duke of Windsor after he abdicated) In the past he has been portrayed as a man how gave up a kingdom for a woman he loved, rather than a man who deserted his country in it's time of need and thrust upon his younger brother responsibilities for which is was not prepared.
I also love the story of how a privileged prince, and later king, who has been raised in a world far removed from the common man develops a deep friendship with a commoner and in the processes develops the skills to lead.
Did I say that Winston Churchill is portrayed in the movie? It's like frosting on the cake.
This movie will be on my blu-rey list as soon as it is released. This is a keeper and you don't need to be an anglophile to enjoy it.
Click on the title for a link to the IMDB page for the movie.
UPDATE 1/25/11: NOMINATED FOR THE MOST ACADEMY AWARDS AT 12 INCLUDING BEST PICTURE & BEST ACTOR !
