'The King's Speech': Guide, Synopsis And Reviews Of The Golden Globe Nominated Film

Nominated for seven Golden Globes on Tuesday, indie art house film 'The King's Speech' led both the field in award potential and confused looks from movie fans. A limited release film that quietly hit a small number of theaters over Thanksgiving weekend, the British monarchy drama starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter has wowed audiences -- or, the few that have seen it.

That said, it's important to know as much as you can about the film as it contends for all the big awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor. Here's a guide to 'The King's Speech,' for your consideration.

Synopsis (from RottenTomatoes.com):

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle. Based on the true story of King George VI, THE KING'S SPEECH follows the Royal Monarch's quest to find his voice

Reviews:

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: "It could have been a bunch of pip-pip, stiff-upper-lip Brit blather about a stuttering king who learns to stop worrying and love the microphone. Instead, The King's Speech -- a crowning achievement powered by a dream cast -- digs vibrant human drama out of the dry dust of history."

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: "Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush give a master class in acting as the future king of England and his speech therapist in this engaging drama."

Leonard Maltin, IndieWire: "Moviegoers who think of period pieces--even relatively recent ones--as being stuffy or remote ought to park their prejudices and see this exceptional film. It is one of the highlights of the year."

PHOTO:
Stars Colin Firth (L) and Geoffrey Rush (R)

Comments

[RENAMED Kevin Rennie]

08:31 PM on 12/19/2010

My take from Down Under:
Politics aside, personal relationships are the core of this drama. The friendship between then Duke of York and his unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue is masterfully handled by two real pros, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. They relish the irony of an antipodean colonial teaching his monarch how to speak the King’s English. Firth never quite captures the look of a scared rabbit in a spotlight that the real Bertie always seems to have in old photos and film clips.
More: http://tiny.cc/b534i

[Musiker]

01:02 AM on 12/16/2010

With such a stellar cast, it's hard to see how this would be anything other than extraordinary!

[phantom65]

11:31 PM on 12/15/2010

I love Colin Firth....LOVE HIM.

[prostock69]

02:15 PM on 12/15/2010

Colin Firth is an AMAZING actor and so handsome as well. I've watched the Pride and Prejudice mini-series, staring him, 4 times now. Sigh...Mr. Darcy!

[wolfiegirl]

02:20 PM on 12/15/2010

I think I've seen it 400; my old worn copy, LOL.

[jo smith456]

12:02 AM on 12/15/2010

hope this film wins a major award...

[MrsPeel]

10:21 PM on 12/14/2010

Oh, Colin Firth just makes me melt. I HEART Colin Firth.

Oh, and he's a genuinely great actor, too.

[mheister]

06:00 PM on 12/14/2010

My review: Dude gives a speech.

The King's Speech wants so desperately to be important, but it just isn't.

Yeah, Firth plays royalty, but he's just a figurehead. It's not like the Nazis are going to win the war if he screws this up.

Since the film lacks gravitas, what we have remaining is some very fine actors in what is essentially a Lifetime movie with dudes in bromance mode (English/Aussie accent edition), and one of 'em happens to have a crown.

A good film? Yup. Best of the year? Not with Winter's Bone, Black Swan, The Social Network, The Fighter, Made in Dagenham, Toy Story 3, The Town, and a handful of others out there....

[Anne Mccormick]

11:04 PM on 12/14/2010

you have your opinion, and i have mine which is that the Kings Speech is the best film of the year. it certainly does not lack gravitas; there is plenty of it in the film. maybe you should read up on the George V1 and what he meant to the people of Great Britain during the war. and no way is the town, winter's bone, and/or made in dagenham even close to best picture quality.

[Luke Thompson]

11:58 PM on 12/14/2010

Get real, I respect other people's opinions. So here is your respect. Your opinion is terrible though. It is so far from a Lifetime movie, have you seen one? They aren't written like this...There is gravitas and suspense throughout the film beginning to end. Toy Story 3, The Town, Made in Dagenham have no real shot. I think The Social Network is really well written but just not that good overall. Not enough for a best picture. If this movie were to win Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor then I would not be extremely surprised and think it to be well deserved.

[norsegirl]

05:28 PM on 12/14/2010

Colin, love you in everything, but you'll always be Mr. Darcy to me.
sigh

[Vivian Alicia Evans]

12:11 PM on 12/14/2010

Looking forward to this one. I love the personal stories set in the times of great world struggles.

[MarsAmbassador]

05:45 PM on 12/14/2010

Me, too! I also get sick of the pairing of history with the phrase 'dry dust' (as in the Rolling Stone review). History is ALWAYS relevant because people are still exactly the same!

[aballout]

12:01 PM on 12/14/2010

I live in Seattle and cannot find a showing anywhere! Luckily one small theater is showing the film on Christmas. Can't wait for this...even the trailer looked amazing

[Rozanna]

12:14 PM on 12/14/2010

Maybe now that it has been nominated, it will open up at some other theaters. I also live in Seattle.

[VonTeshyn]

12:38 PM on 12/14/2010

Try the Harvard Exit, perhaps?

[mzzanthrope]

11:55 AM on 12/14/2010

This looks like a fantastic film. I can't wait to see it. Foreign films and indies are usually so much better than Hollywood big budget movies with 'big' stars.

[Rangergirl]

11:51 AM on 12/14/2010

Looking forward to this film... Love Colin, and Geoffrey is a brilliant Actor as well...

[ClaudiaJean]

11:47 AM on 12/14/2010

Loved, loved, loved everything about this movie.
I'm prone to loving anything Colin Firth... this should win him every award he was denied last year (because his performance in A Single Man was nothing short of brilliant.)
The movie wasn't stuffy English period at all... it was funny and witty and moving.
And it doesn't teach you the history -- you know it going in or figure it out, but it doesn't not hit you over the head like a world history class. It's just a good story told by brilliant performers.

[MsNancyMitford]

11:43 AM on 12/14/2010

What fool requires a guide to history?

The film is fabulous!

[itzy8940]

11:37 AM on 12/14/2010

Colin Firth.

Swoon.....