The dreamer in me can only think of this as a good omen. Colin Firth is the 2,429th star conveniently located in front of the Pig 'N Whistle pub on Hollywood Boulevard, right next to British actress Emma Thompson's. Well deserved. Colin has come a long way since his lake scene in the BBC's Pride & Prejudice. Following his Oscar nomination and BAFTA win last year for A Single Man, he is now a Golden Globe nominee and almost surely will be nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film "The King's Speech" (please read my opinion about the film in my previous entry). Fingers crossed. And good luck to Mr Firth.
If there is a justice in the world of cinema, The King’s Speech and its actors and actresses, director, screenwriter and everybody who contribute to the making of this great film should win a huge heap of awards.
The King’s Speech is based on the true story of Queen Elizabeth II's father and his remarkable friendship with maverick speech therapist Lionel Logue. As the second son of George V, Prince Albert "Bertie" was not expected to ascend to the throne, but when his brother Edward chose to abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson, Bertie was his successor and in 1936 he became King George VI. Thrust into the international spotlight, he engaged Lionel Logue who helped him find a voice to lead the nation.
This is a film about the power of speech, about how tone, pronunciation, and delivery can make all the difference to those who are listening. The story spans the decade leading up to September 3, 1939, the day where the King would have to deliver a speech declaring the British Empire to be at war with Germany. Imagine the kind of confusion, fear, and turmoil that all of Britain must have been feeling at this time. Every home in Britain would have been listening to the radio on this fateful day. The speech to be delivered by the King over this frequency, would not only have to reassure the nation that everything will be okay, but that their leadership and government is firm and at its utmost strength. Imagine how uncomfortable the people would have been had the speech been spoken by a King who stammered at almost every word he spoke.
But stammer is what King George VI frequently did. The film frequently shows Albert (Bertie), King George's real name, rendered literally speechless whenever he had to speak publicly. This was serious problem he wanted to rectify; at first for his own well being, but then because he was to be appointed King once his older brother stepped down from the throne. The scandal that surrounded King Edward's relations with a divorced American woman caused him to revoke his title. This caused it to be thrust upon Albert, despite the fact that he did not want it. The film rightfully sidesteps the details of the scandal and focuses on Albert, and the friendship he develops with Lionel Logue, the speech therapist that Albert hires to help him with his stammer.
Colin Firth is perfect as Albert/King George VI. His performance emphasizes the inner struggle Albert faces as he deals with his own problems as well as the country's. Colin Firth is spectacular, giving a very natural and human spin to what could have a tired turn. We have seen how hard actors tried to show their technical skills, and it's Firth's gift that he can make a stutter emotional and frustrating, that we see how his soul hurts, and his spirit breaks over and over, as he tries to overcome his disability. He knows where he belongs, the pressures he is under, and he hates the spotlight, and all of this is perfectly reflected in his performance.
Geoffrey Rush deserves Oscar consideration for his portrayal of Lionel, the unconventional and unqualified Australian teacher. Rush mixes just the right amount of humour with the character's determination to make Albert into a mighty King. Also of note is Helena Bonham Carter as Albert's wife Elizabeth. Only a great actress like Carter can play a woman so merciless as Belatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films as well as someone so gentle, and merciful as Queen Elizabeth in The King's Speech.
