34. The King's Speech (5/5)

First and foremost, I bought a pirated DVD of King's Speech last month and it is not working good. I tried watching it in spite scenes that are blurry, but sometimes trying is not enough my friend. I failed to really understand the movie. Because of this, I downloaded a torrent file of the movie just recently. With clear copy movie experience, not just that I understood the movie, I also mighty hell enjoyed it.

Story/Screenplay/Script:

I think it is better to review about the story first before anything else because it holds the core of the movie. To start with, I was moved knowing that David Seidler (the screenplay writer of this movie) is now the oldest title holder for best original screenplay for Oscars. I mean, who would disagree on giving him the award? The story is very unique- the idea of making a story out of a royalty's impediment could catch the audience attention alone, what more if you added more to it? Yes, we might had watched a lot of royalty movies and their struggles in ruling their empire, but this one is different because it showed to us the speech defect of the Duke. It magnified to one specific internal problem, and played around with emotions and the responsibility of being a ruler. It showed to us the inside struggle, and how it is hard for him as a royalty to accept his impediment and overcome it. We had a view of the inner obstacle and it was a different view indeed.

One more thing, I love the friendship that was built between King George VI and Leonel Louge (the speech instructor). The development was slow, but it was established good. It is nice knowing a royalty had developed a tight bond with a simple person like Leonel.

David Seidler (oldest title holder for best original screenplay for Oscars)

What I would also like to react about is the story behind David Seidler's production of this masterpiece. He had a speech defect himself as a kid, and he had overcome it as well. It is just fair to say that there is a plus factor if you felt and experience the same things with the character you are writing about. Somehow, putting a part of yourself on the character produces magnificent effects, making it more believable and real. It is really touching for David to write something like this, it feels like sharing his own success story from speech difficulty.

 Also, honestly, I read on some reviews that the movie is witty. I don't know about British wittiness, but at first I didn't find the movie funny at all. I was so focused on the feelings of the character that I haven't recognized the witty side of the script. It must be the culture barrier thing for me because I simply regarded everything as unique and simple characterization from the actors. As for example, I find Geoffrey Rush's portrayal of Lionel Logue (the speech instructor) quirky and with attitude, but then I just considered it as his character, thus not making the genre of the whole movie funny perse. 

 Acting/Directing: I know, everyone would agree how great Colin Firth's portrayal of King George VI (AKA Bertie) had been. As I remember the movie, I can't help but really feel the pride resisting to burst from the protagonist. There are a lot of times that I can't help but laugh, and relate myself to the King George. I know the feeling of being prideful, so I am really moved. The character also reminded me of my father. The mere fact that I relate so much with the protagonist is already enough proof that Colin Firth did a job well done.

And stupid of me to not point this out first-- it is hard to act as a person with speech defect! It was really believable, sometimes you can't help but also mutter and choke words while he says something. You can really feel the difficulty in speaking and the devastation on not able to speak properly!

And again, I like the character of Lionel Logue (acted by Geoffrey Rush). I like his character in the story, and I love how it was acted.







Colin Firth as Duke Bert and Geoffrey Rush as speech instructor Lionel Logue

Cinematography: It is great. The cut to cut scenes, the establishing shots are good, the framing of the shots are splendid. On one of my favorite scenes, I noticed that the camera was just placed in one place, the actors always on the middle of the shot. It was great, and it fits the type of shot. 

Music: Feels orchestraic to me, I don;t know if I remember too well-- but it feels that there are orchestra music used.

Scenes I like the most:
1. The part when they had sessions at Leon's house, transitioning to one session to another. Those were cool series of scenes all together. Light to watch.
2. All the scenes that pertains to Bert's (King George VI) speaking in front of many people. Specially the first and the LAST ONE.
3. Waaaaaaaaaaah! THE SCENE WHEN LIONEL SAID THAT ALBERT HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE KING! Such attitude from Lionel, I love that scene so much, it made me teary eyed!
4. The scene when Albert is reading the piece "TO BE OR NOT TO BE" while listening to music

Other comments: No other comments, I think I had already exhausted everything. Whew, this is hard. My reviews are becoming detailed and I don't know if I can do this consistently! Soon as I get a job I won't be able to do this no more! This is all for my growth... it is hard to review but this is all for you Nek. :)


I give this movie 5/5