4/4 stars
Tom Hooper’s The Kings Speechis a simple, yet enthralling film. Prince Albert, played by the incredible Colin Firth, seeks a solution for his speech impediment. He hopes to find what he is looking for in the teachings of Lionel Logue, a non-certified speech therapist.
Ironically, Lionel, a commoner, serves as a solid rock compared to the ever-turbulent royal world. Like a father to his children, his presence gives the audience an anchor to depend on despite pervading aristocratic drama.
The ornery Albert goes through comical exercises to eliminate his stammer, revealing his vulnerable side. The audience sees the facets of Albert, as he is simultaneously “afraid of his own shadow” and “braver than all of his brothers put together”. As he bares his soul to Lionel, we slowly become fond of him.
The apex of the film shakes the audience to its core, as it ties Albert’s final challenge with the audience’s pre-existing knowledge of historical events that reside in the crevices our brains and hearts. The climax is as tear jerking as it is heart stopping.
Despite its slow pace, The King’s Speech is one movie that you will want to watch over and over again. Hooper brilliantly succeeds in telling us a story in which friendship and trust triumph over the pomposity of the royal world.
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