Review: The King's Speech
Sometimes I think I have the taste of a 60 year old woman, what with my love of BBC period dramas and biopics. So there I was sitting alone in a mostly empty cinema (to be fair, it was a Wednesday mid-morning), where only other people were middle-aged upwards, and with friends. I did feel a bit better when I saw a couple my age come in though (although I can't help but wonder why they chose this movie for a date ...).
Anyway, I'll stop whinging now, because I LOVED this movie. For those who don't know, The King's Speech is about King George VI and his struggle to overcome his debilitating stutter with the help of Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. The movie explores the importance of speaking, on both a personal level and in the public arena. There is an apt moment, where the George VI sees footage of Hitler giving a speech and acknowledges that Hitler is a good speaker. The audience also realises just how powerful well-placed words can be, if one man can incite a World War through his words alone, and just how important it is to George VI to overcome his stutter in order to lead his country through a difficult time.
As a history buff who has an (admittedly un-Australian) interest in the British monarchy, I was watching this closely, and I'm giving this movie a thumbs up for (mostly) historic accuracy (they got the important parts right). I got interested in the British Monarchy after watching Steven Poliakoff's miniseries The Lost Prince (highly recommended if you can find it) which was about short life of Prince John, the autistic and epileptic younger brother of George VI. So you can imagine how much I squeed when he got a mention mid-way through the movie. I mean Prince John is nothing more than a footnote in history, but I'm glad he got nice little mention in this movie.
Also, being a fan of BBC's 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice, I was literally praying for a scene where Colin "Mr. Darcy" Firth's George VI meets Logue's wife, who is played by Jennifer Ehle (Elizabeth Bennett). And it came! The way they played was hilarious for P&P fans, as they played it as if Logue is having an affair with the Mr. Darcy behind Elizabeth's back. And Queen Elizabeth (Queen Mother) telling Mrs Logue that she's called Lizzy at home is the icing on the cake! It's like some bizarre crossover fic or something
Finally, I have to gush over the perfect use of the second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony. I love that movement and if there is a piece of music that can get me tearing up, it's that one. And they played it over George VI last speech in the movie, where he is addressing his entire nation, saying that the country is at another war, and that there will be tough times ahead. As soon as I heard the first chord, I was squeeing and by midway, when they reach the top of that slow crescendo, I was sobbing! I've always thought that movement is the sort of music that is played when one sees Heaven or Hell for the first time. It is both beautiful and overwhelmingly terrifying, and fits the whole atmosphere in this scene.
Of course, the acting is brilliant, and I want to watch the movie again when it comes out on dvd to pay more attention to it, as I was more focussed on the historic aspect this time around. Colin Firth is excellent, and he and Geoffrey Rush bounced off each other well. Really enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter's cheeky and warm Queen Elizabeth. If you love BBC period dramas, you'll enjoy this.
Anyway, I'll stop whinging now, because I LOVED this movie. For those who don't know, The King's Speech is about King George VI and his struggle to overcome his debilitating stutter with the help of Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. The movie explores the importance of speaking, on both a personal level and in the public arena. There is an apt moment, where the George VI sees footage of Hitler giving a speech and acknowledges that Hitler is a good speaker. The audience also realises just how powerful well-placed words can be, if one man can incite a World War through his words alone, and just how important it is to George VI to overcome his stutter in order to lead his country through a difficult time.
As a history buff who has an (admittedly un-Australian) interest in the British monarchy, I was watching this closely, and I'm giving this movie a thumbs up for (mostly) historic accuracy (they got the important parts right). I got interested in the British Monarchy after watching Steven Poliakoff's miniseries The Lost Prince (highly recommended if you can find it) which was about short life of Prince John, the autistic and epileptic younger brother of George VI. So you can imagine how much I squeed when he got a mention mid-way through the movie. I mean Prince John is nothing more than a footnote in history, but I'm glad he got nice little mention in this movie.
Also, being a fan of BBC's 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice, I was literally praying for a scene where Colin "Mr. Darcy" Firth's George VI meets Logue's wife, who is played by Jennifer Ehle (Elizabeth Bennett). And it came! The way they played was hilarious for P&P fans, as they played it as if Logue is having an affair with the Mr. Darcy behind Elizabeth's back. And Queen Elizabeth (Queen Mother) telling Mrs Logue that she's called Lizzy at home is the icing on the cake! It's like some bizarre crossover fic or something
Finally, I have to gush over the perfect use of the second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony. I love that movement and if there is a piece of music that can get me tearing up, it's that one. And they played it over George VI last speech in the movie, where he is addressing his entire nation, saying that the country is at another war, and that there will be tough times ahead. As soon as I heard the first chord, I was squeeing and by midway, when they reach the top of that slow crescendo, I was sobbing! I've always thought that movement is the sort of music that is played when one sees Heaven or Hell for the first time. It is both beautiful and overwhelmingly terrifying, and fits the whole atmosphere in this scene.
Of course, the acting is brilliant, and I want to watch the movie again when it comes out on dvd to pay more attention to it, as I was more focussed on the historic aspect this time around. Colin Firth is excellent, and he and Geoffrey Rush bounced off each other well. Really enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter's cheeky and warm Queen Elizabeth. If you love BBC period dramas, you'll enjoy this.