The King's Speech

A film for which I didn't mind the expected plot development, the touching ending, and the overall almost violent "you're watching an Oscar movie, so a bit of respect bloody hell" vibe. Firth is divine, Carter is divine, Rush is divine, the cinematography is divine (pleasing even for a conversational film, imaginative use of steadycam), the script is divine, the ending is exactly as it should be, and the heaps of euphemisms that make up the English upper class vocabulary are hilarious without even needing to be pointed out. I'd still be more in favor of Oscars for Black Swan, though, because my sensibilities have always been closer to films that aren't afraid to experiment. (09/03/2011)

A very enjoyable intimate drama about real issues against the backdrop of historical events. The cast is great, of course, but in a way too much so, because each of the main three characters is such a distinct actor that they overshadow their characters. The set design also has no major flaws, which is good, although that’s almost a given nowadays. (07/10/2012)

It might start subtly and escalate very gradually, but The King's Speech deeply moved me, and when it comes to admiration for acting performances, it literally surpassed them. And just as the main character is a timid speaker and a future famous ruler, the movie is on one hand a sweet little film and on the other a spectacle that almost everyone can love and celebrate. (07/02/2011)

Behind every great man there is not always only a woman, but in the case of King George VI, a man, and perhaps a voice specialist. The King's Speech is a parade of fine performances from the (until now overlooked) Colin Firth, to the lovely Helena Bonham Carter, to the masterful Geoffrey Rush, who (for me personally) doesn't disappoint. I must also not forget the supporting but still great actors like Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon. Firth really gives a heartfelt performance and I believe his stuttering and swearing to the core. Alexandre Desplat's music also did its job and evoked the atmosphere of Great Britain in the first half of the last century perfectly. The cinematography was charming, as was the script peppered with classic British humour. In short, a film that was my cup of tea despite a few slight bumps, and while it may not be up there for film of the year, I'm still intoxicated. (30/01/2011)

Serious themes of an interesting era in the chronicle of humanity, the beauty of Victorian England (exteriors/interiors, aesthetics), and a lead cast of two. These are the three main assets in this formally meticulously done film, which lacks pull and a good dose of emotion. The sparkle is not enough. If Tom Hooper wasn't just a good craftsman, but a progressive innovator who could put his own distinctive spin on things (and there was a ton of room for that here), this would be downright great. Academics have lost their minds over something that isn’t nearly that great. (31/10/2015)