The King's Speech

The King’s Speech Review

“A Voice Within”

Heather Hardison, Ph.D.

The King’s Speech is a winner in all aspects. It is easy to see why this film won audiences over and took home the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Actor in a year that was filled with many exceptional films. First off, I appreciated the slow pace so that the story could fully unfold. So many movies seem to rush the pace out of fear of losing the audience's attention, which I call the ADHD effect since we are certainly living in an age of immediate gratification. Before I saw the film I imagined that at times it would drag on given the nature of the film but was pleasantly surprised that it moved along quite nicely and it held my attention which I feel is due to the compelling performances by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. They truly carry this film and it is impossible to take your eyes off them.

Colin plays Albert “Bertie” (George the VI) the Duke of York who finds himself in the position of inheriting the throne which comes with an added role of many public speaking engagements that he finds terrifying. Geoffrey Rush portrays the speech therapist, Lionel Logue, whom the Duke’s wife solicits help from in order to treat Albert’s speech impediment.

From the first scene it was clear that Colin Firth was the right man for this demanding role. Watching him stumble over his words during his first speech as the Duke of York was uncomfortable and hard to watch, and it became clear that Firth totally embodied this character. Colin’s physical movements that he incorporated into this character portrayal were astounding. Firth turned in a remarkable and unforgettable performance. He is emerging as a dramatic leading man and will most likely be nominated again for another academy award considering his consistent performances and choices of challenging roles. This was his second nomination after his haunting portrayal of a grieving homosexual who lost his lover in A Single Man last year. He is certainly one to watch for greatness in the years to come.

I was quite surprised by the humor of The King’s Speech. I had envisioned this as a serious film, but Firth and Rush both have impeccable comic timing and the two played off each other perfectly. The chemistry between the two was crucial for this film to work since the bond that was created between these two real life characters over the years of working together was the focal point of this story.

For me, one of the most fascinating aspects was the relationship between therapist and patient. The way Logue doesn’t back down from The Duke of York was bold on his part but necessary for the treatment process. His insistence on equality – “My castle my rules!” sets the tone early for a struggle over the power considering that Albert is the Duke and future King at the time that they meet and he is accustomed to special treatment and deference. New boundaries and social roles have to be established at the beginning of their relationship in order for them to move forward and make progress in Albert’s speech therapy.

What the film does quite nicely is highlight the vulnerabilities and flaws of even those who hold the greatest power in the world. It reminds us that plight does not target just the poor or middle class. In fact, if those flaws in the royal family are discovered it could be devastating to their public persona and could have disastrous effects on the way the country is run. Thus, we can feel the pressure mounting as his responsibilities increase. Logue observes this as well and tries to convince Bertie that he shouldn’t be overcome by his fears and that it is only his fear and not his actual disability that is holding him back. Stuttering can be exacerbated by stress as depicted well in this picture. You can see the weight of the burden that Bertie carries on his shoulders – the weight of a country. His fear is that he will disappoint his entire country and the memory of his father King George the 5^th. At times he feels as if his impediment is so severe that it will impair his ability to serve as King and his suffering builds tension to the plot as well as garner sympathy from the audience.

Bertie is known for his temper and the intensity shown during his frequent outbursts were enjoyable to watch as that seemed to be the only times when he really let go and allowed the true Bertie to show through. In those times his stammer was less noticeable and you can see the changes in his posture and body language as he feels free from some of that pressure that normally bogs him down. What Colin does so well is convey the sense of sadness that Bertie feels under the surface when facing his failure head on without a way out of the spotlight. Also the lack of self confidence is always apparent through his eyes especially in those interactions with his older brother who bullies him even through adulthood. When feeling low, he almost appears to shrink in stature as if withdrawing inward. Logue seems to be the only one to connect with him and draw him out of that inward retreat. Most of those scenes where he seems to disappear I noticed that the camera held him in either the right or just the left corner of the film and not centered. This technique seemed to help reduce his size to emphasize his vulnerability and meekness, which really added to our understanding of his self perception. In those instances his presence resembled that of a child. Not a small feat for Colin who has a rather large stature himself.

Bertie makes it clear at the beginning of treatment that he doesn’t want to explore the cause of his stammer and instructs Logue not to ask personal questions about his life or his upbringing. As I psychologist I understand the importance of self discovery and connecting the pieces to identify the origin of the presenting complaint. However, it is not uncommon for therapy clients to have a fear of facing the actual cause of their malady. Part of it is a defense mechanism that has protected them from this knowledge for years and it unfortunately plays a part in continuing the cycle of the problematic behavior. Another part is fear of facing the insight. Remaining in denial is a more comfortable and safe way to exist. Despite Bertie’s resistance, Logue instinctively searches for the root cause and presses further and further into Bertie’s family history to gain insight into what fuels his speech impediment. At first Bertie agrees to attend sessions if they only address the mechanics of his disorder, but over time Logue breaks through Bertie’s guard and progress is made. One of the most memorable lines from Logue that sticks with me is “You don’t need to be afraid of the things you were afraid of when you were five.” He is conveying to Bertie that it is no longer necessary to hold on to that fear and let it control him. It is safe for him to embrace his true self. This was a turning point in Albert’s success. It allowed him to let go of the fear from childhood and the ridicule from the teasing and step into a new phase of his life where he reclaimed his birthright and his place in the world. It was his ability to accept himself (flaws and all) that released him from his internal torture and allowed him to come into his own.

For me, some of the most interesting scenes were those that depicted the rather strange techniques used as interventions for stammering, some of which were quite humorous. The scenes with Bertie and Logue in his speech therapy sessions gave the film it’s heart. The friendship and bond that was developed through years of working together was the thread that holds this story’s appeal.

Bertie dubs himself as the “Voiceless King,” but Logue believes in him and helps him find his voice along the way. At times Logue acts as a coach giving a pep talk to build Albert’s confidence stating, “You are your own man; have faith in your voice.” When Albert finally finds his voice, he is fully able to step into the role as leader for his country. This personal growth is due to the bond with Logue and was heart warming to watch.

Everything about this film is spot on. The drab colors and rainy atmosphere convey the feel of an old English setting. The music builds tension and interest as the plot develops. Each of the characters is cast perfectly and come together as a cohesive unit. What I do find ironic is that Helena Bonham Carter was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal as the King’s wife which is a rather subtle and normal role for her. I wish she would receive more recognition for her truly challenging roles where she taps in to a level of insanity that I feel no other actress has the acting chops to pull off. Roles such as Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and the Red Queen in Alice and Wonderland are more complex and teetering on the edge of complete madness, yet she isn’t given acclaim for those characters. There is something a little off to me in that equation. I feel she is always stellar and she added a bit of humor and pretentiousness needed for her portrayal of the Queen here. The King’s Speech ensemble was exceptional and it was nice to learn that they were all “chummy” on the set as well as off the set.

The use of the actual speeches from the 1930’s adds to the historic credibility and conjures up images of families huddled around their radios hanging on every word of these accounts of war and “dark times.” 

No doubt you will feel knots in your stomach as he is taking the long walk to his final speech knowing the obstacle that he faces. It takes a courageous man to stand up to his fear and you feel the pangs of anxiety surrounding this momentous event. Eleanor Roosevelt hit on this same point when she said "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face... The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it... You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do." And this is exactly what Albert does in the last scene of the film. The comparison from his first speech to his last in the film is remarkable and inspiring.

Hopefully this film opens up tolerance of disabilities of all kinds. Often the result of impairment is shame, but it doesn’t have to be. It is the perseverance over these obstacles that builds character and strength. If we learn to embrace those struggles and not feel defeated then more of us will model the acceptance of these flaws to the world and reduce the shame that is associated with such disadvantages.

This is a must see film and it is one that they should show in acting classes around the country based on Firth’s first class performance.

Best film of the year, Extraordinary peformances by Firth and Rush, Compelling, and Triumphant!

5 out of 5 stars