The King's Speech (2010)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexander D

  
  Well-performed, well-developed period piece with an absolutely unnecessary R rating.

• paul s

  
  It has often been said that life is all about the journey, not the destination. In The King's Speech you have the cinematic equivalent to the bromide as you are aware going in what will transpire, and yet the getting there is so well put together that you end up cheering, even… More
  It has often been said that life is all about the journey, not the destination. In The King's Speech you have the cinematic equivalent to the bromide as you are aware going in what will transpire, and yet the getting there is so well put together that you end up cheering, even though you knew that the king was going to succeed in giving the speech. What prevails here is the sure hand of director Tom Hooper and the top notch acting of not just the main actors, but all the supporting cast as well. The gist of the story, in case you've been in a coma the past year, is that the Duke of York (2nd in line to the Brit throne, behind his brother the Prince of Wales), stutters. He has tried everything, at the encouragement of his loving wife (Helena Bonham-Carter), and just about everyone else - all to no avail. But then, just when the Duke resigned himself to his malady, Carter discovers a speech therapist with unconventional methods (a wonderful performance by Geoffrey Rush). What follows is a study of individuals with a lens on the class higharchy. Colin Firth as the Duke, expects a degree of decorum, which is the first thing Rush wants to tear down, stating "in this room we are equals". Really, the synopsis doesn't do the film justice; for every nuance is simply perfect and you end up rooting for both characters (whose goal is the same). There are all kinds of pertinent bits of history thrown in (including a tour de force performance by Timothy Spall as Churchill), as well as a dash of Rasputinism that is rebuffed by Firth stating that Rush has overstepped his bounds. The film really isn't a drama per se, as you certainly expect the end result, and yet it is more than a period piece and character study (as the characters don't really grow or change - just form a bond). I guess the best way to illuminate why the film was Oscar worthy comes from a simple statement made early on by the Duke: "as I passed the commoners in the street, I realized that I had no insight into their lives... just as they have none into my own". Indeed; and I suppose that the insight into the lives of royalty is part of the allure of the film, though certainly not its sole point of interest. In reflection, I am struck by the idea that the story is really an old concept, and in lesser hands could have been a bit of history/biographical sludge. That it rises above the mire is indeed a testimonial to all players involved, although I have a lingering thought that perhaps the gravity of the speech itself was somewhat overplayed - though I wasn't there and certainly don't have a finger on the collective psyche of the Brit populace circa 1940.

• Zach B

  
  As with a lot of people that happen to know me in real life, it will come as no surprise that I do, in fact, have something of a speech problem which causes very few people to understand me. The rest to not get a word I say. Plus, when I happen to speak in front of people, unless… More
  As with a lot of people that happen to know me in real life, it will come as no surprise that I do, in fact, have something of a speech problem which causes very few people to understand me. The rest to not get a word I say. Plus, when I happen to speak in front of people, unless those people are like family to me, the words I will say will be stuttered a bit and hard to speak. This is not nor ever caused by choice, but by how I was born and the life I am leading. The same can be said about King George VI in this wonderful film about his struggle to overcome his own speech problems. Watching this film, it is clear that Tom Hooper wants to stress the themes of courage, self respect, and power to overcome problems to an extreme amount. With this film, each of those themes is somehow present in one way or another. To be honest, it is a little tiresome, but appropriate for this film regardless. The other thing about the direction I liked was how he was able to make the character of King George VI (or Bertie as he is called in the film) more real and less like the idea of a king. When we think of kings, we think of them as powerful, huge, fearsome men that at any moment could have you killed. Here, Hooper as the king be played as a troubled, scared man who is just trying to deal with his life at hand. So, does he do a great job? No. But, for this film and what it needed, he done a rather exceptional job. The only other thing that stood out would have to be the influence of Stanley Kubrick that was used in numerous scenes. If you were to look at Kubrick's film 'Barry Lyndon', then look at this film, then other than the fact that these are both period pieces, the attention to detail in every scene plus camera movements are very reminiscent. In 2011's Academy Awards, Colin Firth won the award for Best Actor in a Film. Now, I have a love hate relationship with Firth. He has been in some decent films and some horrible pieces of crap that I try to forget. Here, I am shocked at the dedication he puts into his performance. Everything from how he speaks to his reactions are outstanding to behold. But the thing that makes this performance even more memorable is how much of himself he puts into this character. Now, I am on the edge if he should have won his award for this film, but out of respect for him due to his performance, I am just going to say that this was an award well earned. The other actor I need to mention would have to be Helena Bonham Carter as Firth's wife in this film. Think back to every film Carter has been in. If you do, you will notice that she usually portrays dark, villainous, and typically psychotic female antagonists or antiheroes. Here, she plays a character that is almost the complete opposite of that. Here she plays her character to be carrying, sympathetic, and above all else, filled with love. Seeing her in this role shows me more of her talent then any film by Tim Burton or any of the Harry Potter films can show me. She is truly a good actress and worthy of her nomination for Best Actress (lost out to Natalie Portman for Black Swan). The rest of this cast is wonderful. Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, they all do their roles with justice and power. Plus, how they delivered the dialogue for this film is a step up from your more recent period drama. Looking back on these costume dramas, the actors usually put on a fake accent, suck in a bunch of air, and then talk without knowing the full extent of what they are saying. Here, I love the acting because they show that they have an understanding of what is going on, the level of severity of the circumstances, For the rest of this film, I will say that from the soundtrack to the script, this is a film that knew it had an important message to tell and that the royal family would not be pleased if a mockery was to have been made on this piece of cinema. What is the message of this film? Believe in yourself and you will overcome any and all problems you have. They may not be gone, but they can be overpowered to an extent. This is a wonderful film and one that should be required viewing in speech classes due to what is shown in this film. So, closing this review, in the words of the DVD/ Blu-Ray trailer: All Hail The King!

• Mario L M

  
  When sitting down to watch The King's Speech, I came to it with a number of unfair biases. Not only was the film weighted down by the expectations of a film that won a slew of major awards, I also wondered how I could possibly enjoy a film with a forgone conclusion involving… More
  When sitting down to watch The King's Speech, I came to it with a number of unfair biases. Not only was the film weighted down by the expectations of a film that won a slew of major awards, I also wondered how I could possibly enjoy a film with a forgone conclusion involving figures to whom I felt no connection. That's not to say that all historical films are boring just because you know the ending, but the giving an important speech doesn't quite have the same resonance as the Apollo 13 crew making it back to Earth against all odds. There was a bit on SNL where Keenan Thompson (as Ghetto auteur Tyler Perry) mocked the film as having a conflict that only makes sense to White people. And while that's not quite how I felt about the film, its pretty close. Who cares about the trails and tribulations of another country's parasite class? Well, turns out I was wrong. By the time the credits rolled, I cared a great deal about King George VI and I understood why his was a life worth documenting. The lion's share of the credit has to go to Colin Firth as George. It the finest performance in a career of excellent performances. Firth plays the King, a reluctant monarch with a debilitating stutter, as a man with deep sense of duty and no idea how to go about it. His brother Edward (Guy Pearce) was supposed to the next King and after his unexpected and incredibly selfish abdication, George is thrown into his regency on the eve of World War II. Since the dawn of time, actors have played mentally or physically disabled characters as a quick way to get to an Academy Award but Firth never goes the easy route with his George. There are no magical cures for him and he never plays George's situation for laughs. He allows vulnerability but never lets you forget that he is of royal stock. He a man of deep repression and deeper dignity. Every public engagement is minor tragedy. The pain across Firth's face when he fumbles though a simple address at a race track is devastating. Critically he never overplays his internal turmoil. All of his suffering is in silence. His was the best leading performance of last year and is a must see for anyone who wants see what real acting looks like. As much The King's Speech is Firth's show, he wouldn't have been as great as he was without his supporting cast. Geoffrey Rush plays George's speech therapist Lionel Logue and he's also extraordinary. Rush plays Logue as a man fearless enough to tell a king that he's broken and arrogant enough to push too hard at critically moments. He offends easily and often and while his frankness is necessary to breakthrough the new King's lifetime of refined reservedness, he crosses the line once too often, forgetting his patient's station. This creates an interesting tension to a movie that would be otherwise be overwhelmed with mental health movie cliches. Helen Bonhan Carter is also good but in a narrower way. Her portrayal of of Queen Elizabeth is one of warmth and quiet devotion but little interior life. She was a good wife and mother but we learn nothing else about her in the film. The film is certainly an actor's showcase first and foremost but its also an exquisitely photographed film. Danny Cohen's cinematography is gorgeous. He gives the film the look of a classic painting, full of rich blacks and misty texture that feels period specific and timeless with the same frame. He's the English Conrad L. Hall. The film's script is smart and lively. It efficiently establishes its characters and settings without falling into the trap of being too reverential to its historical context. It's not only the story of the Royal family in the 1930's, its the story about how two very different men forming the most important friendship of their lives. It's about a man finding his confidence and nation finding its leader. Its that universalizing of a story so tied to specific time and place that won screenwriter David Seidler his Oscar. Tom Hooper won the Oscar for directing the film but he didn't really deserve it. Partially because he was up against Darren Aronofsky and David Fincher, men are plainly better directors who turned in superior works but even without them his direction never rises above good. He gets excellent performance's out of his actors and definitely knows how to compose his shots but there's never a sequence in the film that elevates the film above a well done episode of Masterpiece Theater. His work is too calm and unadventurous.He is man who is smart enough to surround himself with talented collaborators but he has a ways to go before you can look at one of his films and know that it is a Tom Hooper film. He has the skill and ambition he just needs to test himself with something out of his comfort zone. This is his The Killing. The King's Speech is not just a movie for White people. It's a movie for anyone who wants to experience some genuine uplift. It's a film of earned sentiment and resounding power. Its a film of grand sweep and hushed emotion. It's not the kind of film that you want to clap for but rather the kind of film that keeps you in your seat after the house lights have come on. It's film that won me over despite my deep reservations at its seemingly inconsequential content. Give it a chance and it'll win you over too.

• Dan S

  
  A wonderfully-told, very moving story about the Duke of York's (Colin Firth) rise to power despite him not wanting it, and the stammer that made him shy and embarrassed for most of his life, until he meets a no-nonsense, honest speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) who inspires him to… More
  A wonderfully-told, very moving story about the Duke of York's (Colin Firth) rise to power despite him not wanting it, and the stammer that made him shy and embarrassed for most of his life, until he meets a no-nonsense, honest speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) who inspires him to take on the difficult challenges that lie ahead. The reason this movie is so special is due to Firth and Rush, who both do a splendid job transforming a once uneasy relationship into a touching friendship. The backdrop of this whole story is appropriately uncertain, and what develops in the final twenty-five minutes or so is given masterful, meticulous care. This is one the best films of 2010.

• Michael M

  
  Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush succeed in giving there best and most worthwile performances in this very inspirational period drama. What was only a small problem that King George had thats barely worth anyone mentioning unless they're doing a pub quiz has been turned into a… More
  Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush succeed in giving there best and most worthwile performances in this very inspirational period drama. What was only a small problem that King George had thats barely worth anyone mentioning unless they're doing a pub quiz has been turned into a masterful piece of cinema that's right at the top of the dramatisation ladder. The Kings Speech posesses one of the most witty scripts of modern day cinema and its carefully chosen and very talented cast flawlessly make it what it is. A masterpiece of royal proportions.

• Scott G

  
  I DID actually go to see this film in the cinema, I was not disappointed, everything about it intrigued me, no it didn't have any action at all but I knew that, I was there for quality, I got pure quality of acting and top notch drama.

• Jason O

  
  Colin Firth definitely rocked this role. Who would've ever thought a film about a speech impediment could be so entertaining, and...a Best Picture winner?

• Eric A

  
  A very powerful film! It may not be for everyone because it is deep, but wow this film is touching.

• Matt G

  
  Robert Wood: Let the microphone do the work. Listen, I have nothing against The King's Speech, I saw it before it was overhyped, and loved it. I do, however believe that it is quite overrated. I'm of course comparing this to The Social Network, that should've won the… More
  Robert Wood: Let the microphone do the work. Listen, I have nothing against The King's Speech, I saw it before it was overhyped, and loved it. I do, however believe that it is quite overrated. I'm of course comparing this to The Social Network, that should've won the damn Academy Award. I mean this was made for the Academy, while The Social Network is made for all of America. I mean, that just screamed WIN from all corners. Now, The King's Speech is instantly forgettable. Now, based off of my very high rating, you might believe that I loved it, and I did, except I truly believe it is overrated. The acting in the film is absolutely supreme. Firth barely stands out to me in this film, I was blown away by the Oscar-worthy performance from the magical Geoffrey Rush. Rush's performance is real, memorable, fantastic, mind-blowing, spectacular, and [insert your own adjective]. Firth was good, but Rush was great. Bonham Carter, Pearce, Spall Archbishop, and Dumbledore all were fine supporters.

• Unknown H

  
  Deserving of every positive review it received, the rather ramshackle cast were perfection personified in this film that was destined from the beginning to be utterly brilliant. Intelligent scripting, almost flawless acting and a beautiful story well told of on of history's true… More
  Deserving of every positive review it received, the rather ramshackle cast were perfection personified in this film that was destined from the beginning to be utterly brilliant. Intelligent scripting, almost flawless acting and a beautiful story well told of on of history's true underdogs. A magnificent piece of cinema that makes me proud to be British.

• Anthony L

  
  I'm not sure The king's Speech deserved the Oscar, at least not compared to some of the other nominees (and some films well off the Oscar radar). I'm not at all surprised it did win and to be honest, I'm not particularly outraged that it did. All the hype etc… More
  I'm not sure The king's Speech deserved the Oscar, at least not compared to some of the other nominees (and some films well off the Oscar radar). I'm not at all surprised it did win and to be honest, I'm not particularly outraged that it did. All the hype etc aside, it is a great film. Tom Hooper is a really good director with a great eye for detail and is a great story teller too. The Damned United proved his skill, The King's Speech is hopefully a sign of what's to come. The performances are really good too, Firth's performance was as good as any I've seen for 2010 so far, Rush is always good and not least here but poor old Helena Bonham Carter, the biggest Oscar snub of the year in my opinion (although Melissa Leo was quite good) The casting of Guy Pearce was quite a surprise too, not that he isn't a great actor, he just isn't the most obvious first choice to play King Edward VIII. The jury is out on Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill, I like him but I didn't find it particularly convincing. All in all, a fantastic film, Oscar-wise, maybe third best film nominated behind Black Swan and Biutiful (which should have won something!)

• Drew S

  
  History repeated itself, as it is often wont to do, at the 2010 Oscars. The two frontrunners, this and The Social Network, were just about as dichotomous as two films could be. The feel-good versus the feel-ehh; the classical versus the revolutionary; the old versus the young, if you… More
  History repeated itself, as it is often wont to do, at the 2010 Oscars. The two frontrunners, this and The Social Network, were just about as dichotomous as two films could be. The feel-good versus the feel-ehh; the classical versus the revolutionary; the old versus the young, if you want to break it down like that. These are simplifications, naturally, but the contributions of each film are pretty simply assessed. The Social Network was an incisive exploration of socialization, privilege, intellect, technology, and the role that all of these play in a rapidly-changing world. This...this was a movie about a king who gave an inspirational speech after overcoming adversity from his family. Even The Social Network, within a scope that admittedly could have stood some broadening, manages to feel bigger than a movie that takes place during World War II. This speech won no one a war; this speech didn't make a people's champion out of King George VI. Tom Hooper, in a move that earned The Social Network its fair share of detractors, is manipulating history in a way that suits his narrative. But where the blurry line between fact and fiction only seemed to play into The Social Network's mythos all the more, The King's Speech is unable to wrangle that line to the point where it seems like anything less than mistruth or conflation. Handsomely crafted and wonderfully acted (Firth deserved that Best Actor trophy - if not for this, then as a career prize), this is nonetheless fluff, neatly packaged as "cerebral" yet "heartwarming." The latter, sure, but the former is pretty far from the truth. It wraps up its challenges about as neatly as possible, leaving the audience with very little to speak about other than how inspirational it was. The King's Speech more or less succeeds at its goals, but they aren't particularly lofty ones, which is a considerable disappointment given its subject matter.

• Chris W

  
  This film tells the story (based on real life) about a royal who became king, but (as the film pushes it) had more difficulty dealing with a near life-long and debilitating stammer than seemingly anything else. Of course it is inspiring.How could it not be? Here's the thing:… More
  This film tells the story (based on real life) about a royal who became king, but (as the film pushes it) had more difficulty dealing with a near life-long and debilitating stammer than seemingly anything else. Of course it is inspiring.How could it not be? Here's the thing: while this is great entertainment, it is rather lacking as a historical drama, and this is coming from a history student who is more kind than most where this sort of thing is concerned. I'd probably have more issues with the film if my speciality was modern British history, but since it is not, I am not going to be totally ripping this thing to shreds. I'm generally okay with movies taking artistic liberties for dramatic and emotional purposes, yet it bothers me here since the film does a good job of capturing the time period so accurately. It does that, but nicks its own consistency by playing up certain things over others in such a way that is becomes rather narrow minded in its focus. Basically what I'm saying is that the film is heavy handedly exaggerating the king's stammer to get him more sympathy, but it's unnecessary because the audience has no trouble feeling for him to begin with. Also, the film cold have done a far better job at contextualizing the film within the broader scope of history instead of predominately focusing on two men and a speech issue. As you might expect, the percormances are brilliant, and the way that struggling with a speech impediment is portrayed is devastatingly honest and real. It can be a difficult at tiems to watch some of the scnes where George really struggles to speak. Firth not surprisingly took home an Oscar for his work, and I agree with it, even if I think he was a tad overhyped (as was the film overall). Rush is great to watch in his role as the eccentric commoner who becomes George's therapist. He and Firth work well together (they have to for the film to be a success), and the various therapy session scenes are some of the best parts of the movie. Helena Bonham Carter adds another great performance to her resume, and it is nice to see her play against type. She's very sympathetic as the King's wife, and looks very good in the period hairstyle. Something I wasn't expecting from this film was the way it was shot. I figured it would be staged and executed more like a play, mostly given the subject matter. A lot of scenes are like this, but then there are times when Tom Hooper busts out some tracking shots or a few good angled shots here and there. The cinematography was better than I expected, and that's probably why this film works (aside from the acting). It's a talky film (no pun intended), so there's no need for too many cinematic flourishes and showmanship, but bursts of them now and then make the film pop and keep it from being totally stale. Yes, this is a good and inspiring film, but it is overrated. It does follow a formula, and it does have a slight air of pretension about it, but even then, I can't fault it too much, because it did have some great moments and surprised me with how it was executed.. I liked it, but didn't think it was a masterpiece or anything, just very well played.

• Candy R

  
  This is a brilliant movie. Based on a true story about the Prince who never expected to be King. After the death of his father and sudden abdication by his brother, Bertie is crowned King George VI. He suffered from a speech impediment his whole life but had to overcome it to address… More
  This is a brilliant movie. Based on a true story about the Prince who never expected to be King. After the death of his father and sudden abdication by his brother, Bertie is crowned King George VI. He suffered from a speech impediment his whole life but had to overcome it to address and unite the nation against Hitler in WWII. His wife the Queen Mother finds him a speech therapist who is unconventional but becomes a firm friend and supporter. Colin, Geoffrey and Helena give excellent performances. It is heartwarming, funny and moving. You see him struggle but you are cheering him on. It also gives you insight into the responsibility of Royal duty above personal desires.

• Alexander W

  
  I didnt really rate Geoffrey Rush in Pirates OTC but I feel he stepped the game up and well quite obviously he is suited to the role of a speech therapist than a pirate. Its a really good film in the period set before WWII.

• Bently L

  
  Dig this: King George VI has a stuttering problem. Oh no! What shall we do? Enter Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist and expert on theater. Logue is bent on helping the King with his speech issue before the king must address his people about WWII. So there is the story in… More
  Dig this: King George VI has a stuttering problem. Oh no! What shall we do? Enter Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist and expert on theater. Logue is bent on helping the King with his speech issue before the king must address his people about WWII. So there is the story in a nutshell. Its a very simple plot. Tom Hooper's The King's Speech is a truly marvelous film with exceptional performances, perfect writing, and a realistic shooting style. Colin Firth's performance as the King, or Bertie, is fantastic. He really deserved that Oscar. He perfectly stutter and when he flips out, he does it well. Geoffrey Rush is also great as the speech therapist and so is Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen. The entire cast knew how to help out Firth with his problem. Guy Pearce was great as well. Plus, Dumbeldore is in this and he is good in his minor appearance! The writing is just perfect and realistic. The therapy scenes were very real and some of the dialogue was inspiring. The world renown speech scene at the climax is just awesome. But my favorite part of the film was Tom Hooper's shooting style which is so realistic and sets the mood of the era and setting excellently. The angles he used put me right in the action. The film makes a great use of intense close-ups and wide angle shots at some occasions. I would want to see more movies like this from Hooper. With his style, he could have directed a decent Harry Potter film. Too bad David Yates beat him to that! The score by Alexandre Desplat also set the mood for me. A sign of good storytelling is a nice piano piece and accompanies the scenes. Very artistic indeed. Nice work, Desplat! The story and the performances are fantastic and simple. The film avoids having an incoherent plot. I'm also glad that the film wasn't any longer than 2 hours. They told the story well in the amount of time given. The film would've gotten a 100% rating from me if it were nail-biting. Unlike Slumdog Millionaire, the events leading up to the climax made me sweaty and scared. What leads up to the climax isn't very intense in my book but still well done. I was at the edge of my seat. Lastly, its so much better than Inception! A near-perfect picture that I think deserved more than just 4 Oscars. I too am also baffled to see that I gave X-Men: First Class a higher rating. Anyways, I enjoyed this and thought that the film's style and storytelling were brilliant. A definite crowd pleaser. "Your face is next, mate."

• Thomas J

  
  This is as interesting as a historical bio-pic can get. It was very nice to see Helena Bonham Carter actually appear "normal" for a change.

• Brad W

  
  The Kings Speech is one of those rare genius movies that make you want to learn more history. The Duke of York (Colin Firth) has a stammer, and hes tried many speech therapists, but all have failed. When his wife (Helena Bonham Carter) won't give up on him, she hires a highly… More
  The Kings Speech is one of those rare genius movies that make you want to learn more history. The Duke of York (Colin Firth) has a stammer, and hes tried many speech therapists, but all have failed. When his wife (Helena Bonham Carter) won't give up on him, she hires a highly recommended man, Dr. Lionel Logue (Geoffery Rush). Soon the two men grow a powerful friend ship but its put to the test when the King dies, and the Dukes brother marries a divorced woman so he cannot be king, so that leaves the Duke to become the next King. When the King grows with pressure with his country being at war with Germany, and the only thing keeping him sane is his family, and his powerful friendship with Lionel. The acting deserved the Oscars and nominations, truly believable performances. The plot is great, and its easy to explain as the story of the king who needed to make a speech to s a scared country. The music, camerawork, and costume designs were all great. This is by far one of the most wonderful and fun movies of all time, while being dramatic and cool at the same time.

• Tim S

  
  It's really hard to be subjective when watching a movie that has just taken home the award for Best Picture. The cynical side of you is waiting for the bottom to drop out and the film fan in you is waiting to be blown away. I wasn't blown away, but thought that it was a well… More
  It's really hard to be subjective when watching a movie that has just taken home the award for Best Picture. The cynical side of you is waiting for the bottom to drop out and the film fan in you is waiting to be blown away. I wasn't blown away, but thought that it was a well written and well acted piece, but did fall into some Oscar bait type tricks along the way. Colin Firth is really good, but I enjoyed Geoffrey Rush much more. Overall, a good movie that could have been better if not considered the best.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings