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 

Black Swan

Black Swan Movie Review

Heather Hardison, Ph.D. 

Dark, Thrilling, Intense, Twisted! Brilliant and unforgettable performance by Natalie Portman.

Spoiler Alert: There will be spoilers revealed in this review in order to truly dissect the film; so do not read if you haven't seen the movie. This movie is too good to be spoiled ahead of time.

Natalie Portman is captivating in this role. Her transformation into the black swan is nothing short of brilliant. It is so powerful that I feel there are no words to really describe it and I find myself wanting to make up new words to give her justice. She is perfect in her performance of Nina Sayers in both the innocent side of Nina and the dark tumultuous side of the black swan. Natalie draws you in during the opening of the film where she is demure, fragile, and reserved which is not a stretch for Natalie as she always exudes such elegance. To give a little background on the plot, Natalie plays Nina Sayers, a very committed ballerina who dances in a New York City Ballet Company in Lincoln Center. She is competing with several other talented dancers for the leading role in a new production of Swan Lake that is being directed by Thomas Leroy played by Vincent Cassell. The leading role of the Swan Queen is a very challenging and demanding role as it requires the dancer to embody conflicting personalities. There is the innocent and pure White Swan and the dark, sensual Black Swan.

Nina is undoubtedly the most technical dancer in the company, yet she lacks the reckless abandon needed to tap into the darker role. The director is torn over whether to give her a chance at this role as he is not convinced that she can let herself go enough to give in to the uninhibited side of herself that she has kept so well guarded. He sees just a little flash of this side during a kiss in his office and this is enough for him to take the gamble and make a sudden change in the casting. Nina knows this is her shot to prove herself which leads to constant practice and unhealthy routines and schedules. This gives us a glimpse at how grueling the life of a competitive dancer can be.

The sweet and innocent side to Nina is why she is the perfect dancer for the White Swan, but she struggles with mastering the Black Swan sequences as she lacks the ability to abandon perfectionism and technical ability for emotional and sensual fluidity. This is something she doesn't connect with until her opening premiere.

Her metamorphosis into the darker side is jaw dropping. It’s acting at it’s best. Duality is the word that stuck in my mind after this film. Her ability to embody both roles flawlessly AND to convey the terror she feels when she begins her descent into psychosis is what stands out as an unforgettable performance. This film is a real thriller and will have you on the edge of your seat during some really creepy scenes. 

There has been controversy over just how much dancing Natalie Portman did in the movie. Her body/dancing double has made claims that Natalie’s dance scenes have been overexaggerated. Does it really matter? Let’s face it – she didn’t win the Oscar because of the dance scenes; although she was magnificent from what I saw. She earned that Oscar for her portrayal of a woman riding the edge of insanity and who was terrified of the changes she is undergoing. Her ability to teeter back and forth in this duality is remarkable. Also, you have to remember that Natalie had to perfect her dancing technique as well as deliver an emotional and challenging performance. Part of being an actress is convincing us on all levels that you are undoubtedly that character and Natalie left no doubt in my mind. There was never a point when I felt she was acting. Rather, I believed that Natalie was so committed to this role and so passionate about making this film that she allowed herself to go where she probably hasn’t before. She appeared to push herself to the brink and lose herself in this role which parallels Nina's journey as well. By the end of the movie I couldn't see Natalie anymore. The Black Swan seemed like a completely separate entity at that point. Natalie completely embodied this character and it will most likely be the role that she is most remembered for.

The physicality of this role was another layer to capture for her performance. She trained for 10 months as a ballerina and did dance many of the scenes in the movie herself. The director Darren Aronofsky stated that Natalie performed 80% of the dance scenes and the film editor, Andy Weisblum told 20/20 that out of 35 body shots that Natalie did 12 but overall Natalie did a lot more of the other scenes in the film. He also stated, "It was sometimes hard for me to tell the difference...It was so close." Picking up techniques that usually takes several years to become proficient at is a daring feat in and of itself. And not only did she succeed in that aspect, but she turned in one of the best female acting performances of all time. I think her stand-in owes Natalie an apology. I doubt that anyone that saw this movie feels that Natalie misrepresented herself. It's clear that she owned that role in all aspects, and it is a shame to have anyone question her performance in any way after she poured herself into this role.

One of the best qualities of this film is that we get a unique internal perspective from someone on the verge of losing their mind at the time that it is happening. Normally we only have a chance to see this occur from the outside as we observe the character's odd behaviors and changes in their personality. Here, we see her descent into this demented world from her eyes which leaves us feeling unnerved and disturbed. I wager that most people left this film feeling creeped out and looking over their shoulders. I know I did. As a therapist this was particularly eye opening to me. Having this glimpse into her perception left me wondering just how terrifying it would be to someone who is experiencing these psychotic episodes. I'm usually looking through the diagnostic lens trying to capture and identify specific symptoms in order to make the correct diagnosis. But this film helps humanize this experience and highlights how confusing and disturbing these breaks from reality would appear to the person who is trapped inside this downward spiral. It can also be a very isolating experience since most individuals do not feel comfortable revealing to others that they are hearing voices or seeing demented images. Nina kept all of her concerns to herself and didn't even let her mother in on her predicament out of fear of losing her role in Swan Lake. The role of the Swan Queen meant more to Nina than her own mental wellbeing (a sign of her obsessiveness). This film will change how I interact with psychotic patients in the future. Instead of focusing on just the diagnostic criteria, I will be more concerned with addressing their fears and their emotional concerns regarding the strange experiences that they are enduring, now that I see how utterly frightening it would feel to be on the verge of losing their mind.

I was looking forward to this movie given my love for psychological thrillers. It delivered in the thrilling and mysterious aspects. In fact there were multiple scenes that had me baffled as to what was really going on. For awhile there I wasn’t sure if Mila Kunis’ character, Lily, was real or just a complete figment of Nina’s imagination. Also we aren’t sure if Lily is actually out to get Nina or if Nina is consumed with paranoia until the end. I feel this uncertainty adds to the intrigue of the film and keeps you guessing throughout. Also confusing are the scenes that are hallucinations conjured up in Nina's head. Only at the end of the film does all of this start to make sense which again gives it a mystifying aspect. Most of the comments online after the film was released contained confusion over several scenes, rightly so. The scene where Nina visits Beth in the hospital to return her stuff was particularly confusing to viewers. Knowing now that she was delusional during most of the film we can assume that she did visit Beth but that Beth did not stab herself. Nina's delusions had already taken over at that point and she was in the height of her psychosis. Nina was no longer in contact with reality which is why there are scenes where reality and fantasy are tangled together. We see the same thing happen when Nina imagines that the sex scene between her and Lily took place. We later learn from Lily that it never happened. Lily said she went home with a guy from the club and it was all a fantasy. Nina can't distinguish what is real or imagined. That could happen with individuals who are delusional, paranoid, and/or schizophrenic.

However, what is a stretch is that she would imagine stabbing Lily but stab herself instead. It is rare that someone would descend into insanity that fast without raising the suspicions of others around her. If this were to occur in real life, her mother who lived with her and interacted and observed her daily would have likely brought in psychological help. Or her mother would have taken her to the hospital for a psychological evaluation where they would have held her on a court order for mandated treatment considering how far she had decompensated. She would have been prescribed psychiatric medication immediately which could have saved her life. Instead she suffered a severe injury when she stabbed herself thinking she was stabbing Lily and as a result she died onstage at the end of her opening night as the Swan Queen.

We learn at the end of the film that Lily was not out to get Nina. It turns out that it was a part of herself (her alter ego) that was sabotaging her. Thus, Nina was caught up in a delusion, which lead to her demise. This type of delusion is what we call a persecutory delusion where an individual believes that someone is following them, is out to get them or is out to harm them. It is likely that Nina would have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia if she had lived past her performance. To receive this diagnosis the psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, bizarre thought processes, etc)  have to have been present for a period of 6 months and can't be explained by any other disorder or medical condition. There is a strong genetic link for schizophrenia, and it appears that her mother has some psychopathology present as well.  Early to mid adulthood is the prime time for onset of this disorder which is about the age that Nina is in the movie. Stress of any kind (physical, psychological or social) can trigger a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia to emerge if the predisposition for the disorder is there.

Some reviewers question whether Nina's mother was actually in the room asleep in the corner when she was completing her director's assignment to touch herself. I actually hadn't thought that she could have imagined that. I am still not convinced that was part of her hallucination. Her mother's behavior was intrusive and odd, and it is quite likely that her mother could have been hovering over her. On the day Nina awoke after her complete breakdown, her mother was sitting by her bedside and had locked her in her room to try to keep her from showing up to her opening night; so I'm thinking her mother slept in her room on several occasions. That is part of their twisted and enmeshed relationship. Barbara Hersey turned in a rather creepy portrayal of Nina’s mother by undressing Nina at night, asking intrusive personal questions and controlling all aspects of her environment and daily life including when she could go out, what to eat, what to wear, etc. Barbara's performance is reminiscent of Joan Crawford’s Mommy Dearest role with a more disturbing feel to it.

My only complaint is that the black swan scenes were too short. I would have loved to have seen extended or additional scenes to showcase her embodiment of that role. This is what drew us to the film in the first place and it felt quite like a teaser that didn't deliver fully. I was left wanting more.

To add to the spooky feel, the addition of fluttering wings accompany creaking doors, sewing machines and subway rumblings in scenes throughout the film which was a brilliant move on Darren Arronofsky's part. Again this gives us an idea of what the world looks and sounds like through Nina's eyes. Voices, heavy breathing and psychotic laughter seem to unnerve Nina (and us) as she enters rooms and walks down dark hallways. This helps create the sinister tone of much of the film along with the frantic, shaky way the movie was shot. All of these aspects worked together seamlessly to create a masterpiece. Nothing about this movie is polished. It has a very raw, uncut feel throughout. I think is parallels Nina's frenetic perception of the world around her as well, which I appreciated. I don't think the film would have worked as well if it had been presented in any other way.

Black Swan also depicts the Ballerina world that is centered around perfection and total commitment. It is all consuming and requires utter dedication that often spirals out of control leading to disastrous results. It is the perfect avenue to stage a mental breakdown as the stress level is so high and so much rides on their ability to perform flawlessly on a consistent basis.

Nina's drive and commitment to dance not only lead to psychosis but other psychopathology is present as well. Nina appears anorexic and obsessive about her routines and technique. She most likely suffers from obsessive compulsive personality disorder and it is clear that she is a perfectionist as evidenced by her insistence on practicing routines well past a healthy limit and even through serious injuries. Even in her final moments she is consumed with perfection. Her last words to her director were "I was perfect." Also there is an unnatural attachment to childhood objects. Her room is comprised of dolls, stuffed animals and a music box with a dancing ballerina. When she speaks it is with a soft and childlike voice especially when interacting with her mother. To say she is sheltered and naive is a huge understatement. Her development is so stunted that it is scarier at times than her psychotic breakdown. Nina is most likely in her early to mid-twenties and still lives with her overbearing and over-involved mother.  She appears to have no life outside of dancing and no friends at all. In fact, most of the dancers in the company ostracize Nina due to her peculiar behavior. Lack of social support could also contribute to her breakdown. Lily is the only person we see that attempts to interact with her and she becomes a person that Nina suspects is after her.

Lily was a pivotal character in this film which leads me to wonder why wasn’t Mila Kunis given more recognition for her contribution. She was seductive, sensual and free from any social constraints. She was the perfect antithesis to Nina Sayers. I don't even recall Natalie Portman listing Mila in her acceptance speech which I was disappointed in. That brings me to another point. Leading up to the film a lot of the buzz about Black Swan was centered on the sex scene between Lily and Nina. Natalie Portman is even quoted in several interviews about the fact that this scene was added to draw in male viewers. If that is the case then that is a shame. There are so many aspects about this film that make it an extraordinary film. Those merits would have been enough to bring in and sustain any viewer (male or female). I don't think a 2 minute sex scene is necessary to make this film more desirable. In fact hearing that it could have been added for that reason alone almost cheapens it and certainly seems to bring into question the director's confidence in Natalie's performance. There should have never been any doubt that she could pull this off without the need of sexual exploitations.  

Obviously the most striking and also the most disturbing scenes are those toward the end where she starts to transform physically and mentally into the Black Swan - growing wings, legs becoming deformed into bird like appendages and toes becoming webbed. Truly magnificent and horrifying simultaneously but very dramatic!!

I'm giving this movie 4.5 stars out of 5. I really loved this movie and I'm so tempted to give it 5 stars because I'm in awe of Natalie's performance. However, I am docking it 1/2 a star because I feel that we didn't get enough of the black swan scenes. I feel that is the only drawback to the film. The whole movie builds up to the moment when she loses herself and is transformed into the black swan and those moments are some of the most brilliant I have ever seen on the screen, but I was left wanting much more. Natalie was so dazzling in those moments that I could watch her all night long. I think her performance is one of the greatest performances ever on film. I am ranking it up there with Charlize Theron in Monster, which I consider to have been the best to date and now they are equal in my opinion. Natalie is one of the best actresses we have now and I think she is going to be a consistently stellar actress for many decades to come. She showed so much promise at such a young age in The Professional and Beautiful Girls and I knew she would grow into a very successful actress. I just didn't realize she would reset the bar for Hollywood. I hope others are inspired by her work and challenge themselves to turn in more dramatic and mind blowing performances in the future. 

4.5 Stars out of 5

Natalie Portman is a Genius!! If this performance did not impress you then no performance ever will.