Come on, this film could only be great. You can throw Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter in an Afrikaans play about General Christiaan de Wet that launches it at the KKNK and it would be great. Add a great director, Tom Hooper (The Damned United, Longford) to the mix and The King’s Speech deserves all the awards it is winning.

In a nutshell

Berty’s day job includes some public speaking. Thing is, he stammers. Badly. He can’t quit either. He is the Duke of York after all and about to become the King of England during one of the harshest times to be the King of England, World War II. His doting wife enlists the help of one Lionel Logue, speech therapist.

Mood of the film

I can’t stand the word ‘poignant’. My Afrikaans tongue can never get the pronunciation quite right. It is the perfect word for this film though and I don’t have to say it out loud.

The King’s Speech is thus, poignant, very, very British and surprisingly light-hearted.

Best one liner

Lionel Logue: [as George “Berty” is lighting up a cigarette] Please don’t do that.

King George VI: I’m sorry?

Lionel Logue: I believe sucking smoke into your lungs will kill you.

King George VI: My physicians say it relaxes the throat.

Lionel Logue: They’re idiots.

King George VI: They’ve all been knighted.

Lionel Logue: Makes it official then.

Best scene

Lionel decides it is time for some fresh air and makes Berty walk through a foggy, softly lit park. He says Berty could be king. Berty accuses him of treason.

Best performance

Colin Firth? No. Geoffrey Rush? No. Both of them? Yes.

What makes the film relevant today?

It deals with friendship, overcoming hardships and the damage parents and other siblings can cause.

FYI

The crew knew that big names would get the movie made. So they got someone who lived near Geoffrey Rush to drop the script in his letterbox. It dit have a cover note apologizing for the unsolicited approach. He read the script and accepted the role.

Rotten Tomatoes score

95%

My score

95%

Boring details

Stars: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter

Director: Tom Hooper

Running time: 118min