To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was worried that it might be just another dry and boring story about the British. I mean, lets face it, they seem to take themselves very seriously when it comes to movies, especially when it has to do with the monarchy. However, I was pleasantly surprised.
Bertie is the younger brother of the heir to the british thrown and suffers from a terrible stutter. When his care-free, spinster brother decides to abdicate his title as King, Bertie is forced to take his place as King George the VI. With the help of his wife and a commoner speech therapist, he must find a way to conquer his stutter in order to lead his people through WWII.
The movie was definitely a serious drama, but I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging and often times funny the dialogue was. And not funny in a "British humor" way, but actually funny. Geoffrey Rush was absolutely amazing. He captured his character so well, and his wit really made the film. It was also great to see him out of those pirate clothes. I would be surprised if he didn't win Best Supporting Actor.
Something else that I really haven't paid much attention to in the past with movies is the cinematography. Maybe practicing my photography and shot composition has brought it more to my attention, but during the King's Speech, I was impressed with the shots that they chose and the angles that they used. They definitely contributed to the impact of what was being portrayed by the actors on screen.
I am happy that I was able to walk away from the movie agreeing with the 12 nominations they received. Along with Best Supporting Actor, I would say Best Screenplay and Cinematography are also easily within their reach. I could also see it being Best Picture. It is definitely better than Social Network, which I did in fact like.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who isn't looking for an action packed thriller, but more of a raw biography of a man of history. It really is great insight into the royal families past.
Thanks Liana for coming with me!!!!! Maybe she can give us some insight as well :o)
Rating: 4 out of 5
When to See it: With your parents, or with someone who appreciates screenplay over bells and whistles.
Rated: R
Run Time: ~2 hours