(Written 20/1)Last night I went to the cinema to see The Kings Speech. We were originally going to go to the City Screen straight after work but it had sold out in town; instead we drove up to Clifton moor for a later showing. It was packed there as well but we managed to get in. A lot of the older crowd appear to be drawn to this film, a mixture of flag wavers and Colin Firth lovers perhaps. There was definitely a higher average age than usual in the cinema (which I remember reading somewhere was around 26**), not that there’s anything wrong with that of course and it was nice to be in a big packed out cinema. In fact, I can’t remember the last time that has been the case – maybe as long ago as rings?
I gave the film 5 stars and really would recommend it to anyone with the exception perhaps of only the staunchest anti-monarchists! Regardless of your political opinions the monarchy carries a great deal of fascination and the film plays to that with a great attention to detail. In addition it is very well acted all round and Colin Firth is understandably a leading Oscar contender as the eponymous King George VI; the reluctant war time monarch plagued with a stammer since early childhood. The supporting cast was excellent with Helena Bonham Carter’s Queen Mum also worthy of her rave reviews (especially it seems from those who remember her in her prime). One slight exception for me was Timothy Spall’s Churchill; his scenes being the only where I wasn’t completely engrossed and was instead brought round to the actor’s playing of the part.
The best scenes were when Firth and Geoffrey Rush, the unconventional Australian speech therapist, were working together in his dingy London clinic and it is their relationship that really draws the viewer in. There were humorous moments, again mostly when they are engaged in the secret therapy sessions, but the film still captured the personal torment brought about by his condition and his unwillingness to be king. The characters and story are developed excellently with the crescendo building to George’s speech at the outbreak of WW2. The threat of the outbreak of war looms greater as the film progresses and actual footage of Hitler and the Nazi army is particularly harrowing on the big screen (shown to us the audience as it was to the characters in the film).
Any criticisms were few and minor. It maybe flirts with overindulgence at times (not least Guy Pearce’s flamboyant Edward) and as mentioned, the role of Churchill is more of a distraction than a contributor to the story. I have perhaps been more stirred by other films though the speech he delivers at the end is undoubtedly rousing. The troubled childhood of which his stammer is born is touched upon in an emotional scene after his father has died though not explored any further – maybe it could have been but then again the film reminds us in other parts of how little room for sentimentality there was in the royal family, contrary to the image we are presented with in the 21st century.
All in all it was a very enjoyable watch and nice to experience the buzz of a full cinema – I sensed the audience were very close to bursting out in applause at the end having had our national pride pandered to so well though our reserved Englishness kept it just out of reach. Maybe all it would have taken was one person to set it off! It seems the box office will have a good take; likewise the lead actors will deservedly take their plaudits. Having recently seen ‘A Single Man’, Colin Firth has again gone up in my opinion and I will be looking out with interest what future roles he takes on. It will keep the monarchists buzzing for a while and is worthy in its own right as a very watchable and engaging film.
** more info here: http://sy09.ukfilmcouncil.ry.com/?id=41339
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