The King's Speech

The King's Speech: I've been wanting to see this movie for a while now, and, after the BAFTA nominees were announced, and The King's Speech dominated with 14 nominations, I knew I had to see this ASAP. So, last night I enjoyed this fantastic historical drama that definitely lived up to the hype!

Right from the start the director, Tom Hooper (director of the GREAT John Adams mini-series), sets an interesting tone. You can tell the movie will be somewhat quirky, enjoyable, but, at times, very painful too. Throughout this movie I felt myself REALLY noticing the cinematography. Every shot seems calculated. Every angle specifically chosen. If you want to see a movie that displays what an ART cinematography can truly be at its finest, see this movie.

Not only does it look fantastic, its pacing and dialogue are also stellar. Again, every cut seems intentional here. Every bit of dialogue serves its purpose, sounds natural, and always evokes the appropriate emotion of the viewer.

All of these components are further elevated by a top-notch acting ensemble. The supporting cast includes actors that have carried movies on their own. Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, and Guy Pearce have little screen time, but perfectly compliment the two leading men. The chemistry between Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth is truly remarkable. Both hold their own with each other, and they make what would have been a great film with lesser actors even better.

However, the real star of the movie, the main component that sets this movie apart, is Colin Firth. This is definitely one of the best performances I've seen in a long time. At times painful, joyous, outraged, and defeated. All of these emotions can be clearly read on his face, even though his character, at many times, cannot clearly communicate what he is feeling. It truly is a performance that needs to be seen.