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The King's Speech (2010)

Posted by Jesus on Mon Jan 17 at 2:51am, 45 Comments.

“Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho'. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. Peter Sellers, "Being There." Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don't buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, "I Am Sam." Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed...”
- Advice on how to win a Best Actor Oscar from 2008’s “Tropic Thunder”

Colin Firth, I’d like to present you with the Oscar for Best Half Retard, and subsequently, Actor.

I saw the King’s Speech tonight, despite not really having that much of an interest in it, because I’ve been hearing so much gushing about Firth’s performance as the stammering George VI. It’s one of those movies for me that I knew was going to be good, but was sorta dreading it. Indeed, Firth’s performance was impressive, and the movie is good, though lacking to be considered for Best Picture, like some speculating I’ve heard.

The premise of the King’s Speech is the true story of King George VI before and during World War II, where the introduction of radio meant that he had to be the voice of his people, instilling confidence and bringing them together against the charismatic Hitler, despite having a horrendous stutter. The film follows his sessions with an unorthodox speech therapist, with whom he forms an unlikely friendship.

I watched this movie with a more careful eye than most, having heard so much about it. So, my review may be harsh, despite liking the film. As I said before, Firth is very good and will likely win an Oscar, if only for the difficultly of the role. Director Tom Hooper is also in the discussion for an Oscar, however, I don’t think it is warranted, and is pretty absurd. I found certain shots to be awkward and off-putting and much of the print to be too dark. Neither affected my enjoyment of the film, but I noticed them.

What really held this film back was its structure. I couldn’t help but compare it to The Social Network. Both feature unremarkable stories, but The Social Network tells its in a way that doesn’t always have you thinking a step ahead. While in the King’s Speech, you pretty much know where every scene is headed as soon as it starts and it’s just a matter of waiting for the movie to catch up with where your brain has already gone. It’s not that predictability is bad, but in this case, the chronological storytelling and methodical pacing add up to a dragging middle. Not to mention, it’s hard to have quick moving dialogue when one of your characters can talk correctly. The film’s finale does bring you back in, however. There is one big reveal in the film, but it feels like it comes too late, and some other themes, like the comparison between George VI and Hitler, are introduced after the stakes have already been set, missing an opportunity.

The quiet gem of this film is Geoffrey Rush, who while overshadowed by Firth, plays the speech therapist as one of the few truly likable characters. He is charming and enjoyable. Though their goals are the same, I found myself rooting for Rush’s character more so than the pompous Firth. Perhaps that was the point.

By the film’s end, I had enjoyed it, but refuse to see it as a true Best Picture contender, and instead only as Oscar bait. Like I criticized True Grit, this film doesn’t give you anything to take home with you. As far as recommendations go, it’s not something I feel is a must see this year, but if you have an interest in the material, it’s well done and delivers as an entertaining history lesson.

See more in WATCH > Movies

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