THE KING'S SPEECH (10/10)I don't think that when I first saw The King's Speech back in January, it resonated with me how quite so profound an impact it would have on my views and expectations of every other movie to come in 2011. Yet here we are, and twelve months on it stands as my favourite film (but one) of the entire year. That's quite a hallmark indeed, considering I'd been worried that the hype surrounding the film due to its historical relevance would turn out to be its undoing. I needn't have worried, though: Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush stole my heart with their beautiful portrayals of Bertie and Lionel Logue, establishing a palpable chemistry from their first scene together and developing it throughout to bring the film to a tense yet uplifting climax by the time of the titular speech. Director Tom Hooper clearly showed an utmost sincerity in his depiction of Britain on the brink of war, pondering on the traditions and tribulations of royalty without going so far as to mock them to the point of ignorance, striking a delicate balance unheard of for some time now. There is a unique respect shown here for the film's contextual source, respect which ultimately makes this such a poignant and apt piece for a society which in itself is now trying to overcome its greatest challenge, thrust into the limelight with its recession and forced to resort to unorthodox means to resolve their financial problems. Perhaps Hooper, Firth, Rush and the all-star cast (the majority of which are put to good use in the plotline, although some cameos feel a little forced for the sake of celebrity recognition) had this in mind as they worked to bring the story of King George VI to the big screen, perhaps not. No matter what their stance, this stands as a beautiful landmark of modern film, an intense drama that brings one of the most amazing untold stories of British history to the forefront, and rightly so.
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