The King's Speech [Blu-ray] [2010]

Brilliant film, very good acting. Historical and moving. There is a scene with a lot of swearing so not for very young children. It is in context with the film so it is relevant. Watch it and decide. I have watched it a few times now and it is quality.

This film is notable for a number of reasons. Some of them are wholly predictable, other less so. So, let's start with the things one might expect. First, the quality of the cast is beyond reproach. Colin Firth is quite startlingly good as the shy, diffident and afflicted future King. Rush is avuncular and authoritative, while the supporting cast are pitch perfect. The delectable Helena Bonham-Carter puts more flesh on the young Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and future Queen Mother, than even this high quality script might have allowed, while the brief appearance of Michael Gambon is a nice study in both Saturnine severity and pitiful confusion as George V nears his end. For me, however, the cream of the supporting cast is Guy Pearce's portrayal of the Duke of Windsor. David is shown as essentially complacent and, beneath it all, weaker than his poor, derided brother. Pearce nails the clipped frustration and the arrogant languor perfectly. So far, so good. Where this film scores even better, however, is in the rather more playfully unpredictable script and the way the performers inhabit it. At first sight, this may appear to be nothing more than a rather dry period piece, but what stands out when you watch it is just how FUNNY it is. Yes, you heard right: funny. When I first saw this at the cinema I laughed out loud more loudly and more often than I have at many comedy films. The whole thing careers along at a lively pace, held together with this quick-witted and coruscating wit. Possibly my favourite moment of the whole film comes when Lionel Logue's wife arrives home early from playing bridge to find some rather unexpected visitors to her home. It's a beautiful little pen painting of the awkwardness of the class system of the time, and beautifully judged by all. But of course, all this wouldn't work as a comedy alone, which makes the quality of the dramatic playing all the more satisfying. Since receiving the DVD, I've watched it several times more and have not tired of the standard of the work and the little gems that each view manages to reveal There are no real low points; this is a film that does something very rare: it manages to combine a host of already exemplary components into a pretty near perfect whole. There are no major faults at all, and very few minor ones that I can remember. It is, quite clearly, a film of a very high standards, and richly deserves the plaudits it has received.

Wonderful film, great characterisation, neatly paced, well plotted, fantastic production values, won its Oscar against strong competition. Sadly someone clearly hated the Archbishop of Canterbury and was allowed to be very clumsy with Derek Jacobi's lines! Extremely poignant, as the story was well known, but only from the outside. There are many good insights and historical annecdotes. Many great moments that decorate really difficult time. RECOMMENDED

Good

Although it is surprising that it turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, it's no great surprise that The King's Speech was a hit: it's a terrific audience picture. It may follow an established template - its double-act between the impaired monarch and the pomposity-puncturing commoner who treats him as much with common sense and emotional as much as mechanical therapy is basically The Mad Speech Impediment of King George with a happier ending - but the script is a perfect crowdpleaser that hits all the right emotional and comic beats and is blessed with terrific performances from an impressive cast of players who haven't always been as well cast as they might in past films. The almost trademark constipated style that often works against Colin Firth in his more conventional leading roles is absolutely perfect here while Helena Bonham-Carter, who can switch onto autopilot petulant mode in some roles, is absolutely delightful here with a wonderful sense of comic timing. Geoffrey Rush isn't exactly stretching himself here as the therapist, the part plays so well to his strengths and his own comic touch that that turns out to be an advantage while Guy Pearce makes a convincingly dismissive and occasionally vindictive Edward and Michael Gambon impresses as the ailing monarch despite his limited screen time. Only Timothy Spall's Winston Churchill seems a bit of an uninspired miscast. Director Tom Hopper is better with actors than he is with lenses, the look of the film that uninvitingly flat and lifeless look so beloved of modern period pieces that seem to believe that the past was devoid of primary colors, but since this is a performance and script-led piece that's not the handicap it could have been. The film only really misses its footing with the climactic speech because, ironically, it doesn't trust the voice and swamps the scene with music to overegg the solemnity and magnitude of the occasion. But the film is more than enough fun to forgive it. This is one case where you're better off getting the DVD than the UK Blu-ray: the extras are the same - audio commentary by Hooper featurette, interview with Mark Logue,, two genuine speeches by King George VI, production sketches and stills gallery and trailer - but the Blu-ray offers a poor and very unsatisfying 1080/25i transfer than has the same PAL speedup as the DVD rather than being presented at the proper 24fps speed.

Very good to watch

This is classic British film making. The storyline is now well know. HRH King Goerge 6th had a very serious stammer. His premature and unexpected rise to the throne left him ill prepared for the duties of Kingship. The story follows his attempts to overcome the disability. This is a very moving, powerful account of his attempts to rectify his problem. The Queen Elizabeth (Bonham-Carter) , is shown to have played a hugely supportive role in those attempts. From all accounts, this storyline is not that far off the truth. It deserves much credit for the way it so clearly demonstrates the terrible frustrations of HRH, as he battles with his demon, but also for the way it humanises the Royal Family throughout. It is never disparaging, never seeks to insert scandal, gossip, speculate or bad mouth the Monarchy - a temptation many filmakers would find it hard to resist. No superfluous issues are dreamed up. It is simple, straighforward. It demonstrates the will power needed for anyone to overcome these obstacles. This is a very moving, accurate, sincere account of one mans (a slightly reluctant King) enormous struggle to deal with a hugely personal obstacle. Terrific acting by Firth et al. Superbly cast and well shot. Great film making. Very enjoyable.

I went and saw this film at the cinema when it was coming to the end of its run so there were only four people there so it was really enjoyable to watch. I had to get this for my Auntie as she was unable to get to the cinema and she has really enjoyed it. As a history student I was not fully aware of this area of history but I have really become interested in George VI and the history surround this and I have found myself watching many documentaries that have been made about him and his father since seeing the film. The acting in this is superb by all, Colin Firth does a brilliant job in this as he always does. I have only seen Helena in Harry Potter so this role is obviously rather different but I really enjoyed her in this. However for me Geoffrey Rush is amazing I just love him and I am so glad that he got some awards for his role in the film as for me his performance really was the highlight. The score for the film fits well and I think considering they did not have a big budget like other films do you would honestly not know that when watching the film and I can't believe both Film4 and the BBC passed it over (I bet they are kicking themselves whoever made that decision!)

実在の人物の物語であるというリアリティがある作品です。立場に対するプレッシャーと吃音発症の負の連鎖はとても痛々しいですが、それを克服する過程が見る人に勇気を与える作品だと思います。エンターテイメントを通して吃音への理解を深められたと感じています。

Good movie! Superbly acted!

Réalisé par le britannique Tom Hooper (aussi aux commandes des Misérables version 2013), Le Discours d'un Roi ne rafla pas moins de 4 Oscars en 2011 : Meilleur Film, Meilleur Réalisateur, Meilleur Scénario et Meilleur Acteur pour Colin Firth. L'histoire, tirée des mémoires de Lionel Logue, se centre autours de l'alors Duc d'York, fils du Roi d'Angleterre George V, et se déroule avant qu'il ne devienne George VI, dernier Empereur des Indes et premier Chef du Commonwealth. Attend de bégaiements, il dut faire appel à un australien aux méthodes inhabituelles afin de vaincre cet handicap, barrière entre sa fonction et lui, mais surtout entre un peuple et son Roi. Le film présente tout d'abord un intérêt historique évident : l'intimité d'un Duc puis d'un Roi, les changements sociétaux de l'époque (le souverain, avec l'apparition de la radio puis de la télévision, voit son rôle évoluer, passant d'une apparition majestueuse de temps à autre à une voix, puis une image, présente dans chaque foyer), mais également dévoilant le balet des hommes de pouvoir, de l'apparition d'un Churchill imposant à l'Archevêque de Canterbury, en passant par Edouard VIII, dont le règne fut de courte durée. Enfin, la situation de plus en plus explosive en Europe n'est pas occultée, le nazisme devenant un sujet de plus en plus préoccupant pour la royauté britannique. Cependant, Tom Hooper ne commet pas l'erreur de plomber le rythme du film par une avalanche de références historiques qui aurait pu s'avérer rapidement indigeste. Au contraire, l'Histoire, présentée de manière fluide, entraine avec intelligence le récit et en devient une base aussi solide qu'exploitée avec talent, dévoilée par moment par petites touches aussi discrètes que bien placées (citons le passage où Firth annonce en pleur à sa femme qu'il n'est rien d'autre qu'un marin : en effet, George VI servit dans la Royal Navy au cours de la Première Guerre Mondiale). Cependant, au delà de son côté historique, Le Discours d'un Roi se place avant tout d'un point de vue humain, dévoilant avec une pudeur admirable l'homme derrière la couronne : le Duc d'York, écrasé par le fardeau de son héritage royal, soumis à un père autoritaire, en perpétuel retrait d'un frère ainé aventurier et coureur de femmes, et traumatisé durant son enfance par une gouvernante malsaine et par ses défauts corporels (des genoux cagneux qui l'obligèrent à porter des années durant des coques de métal, et le bégaiement, évidente manifestation physique de son mal être). Un homme tourmenté, doutant de lui-même, rêvant d'être différent (l'histoire raconté à ses filles sur le pingouin se transformant en albatros aux immenses ailes en est le parfait témoignage), mais également se battant en permanence contre ses multiples failles, avec courage et ténacité. A ce titre, je ne peux que saluer le talent d'acteur évident de Colin Firth. Emprunt des fêlures et tourments de Georges VI, il disparaît totalement derrière le rôle, peignant le souverain dans ses moindres détails, d'un clignement d'œil fugace du à son défaut d'élocution à des crises de colère aussi violentes que brusques. La scène d'introduction est ainsi magistrale, l'acteur parvenant en quelques minutes à nous faire sentir tout le mal être du Duc d'York. Remarquable ! Face à lui, interprétant Lionel Logue, Geoffrey Rush est également parfait, orthophoniste talentueux rêvant naïvement des planches, tour à tour espiègle et intraitable quant à ses méthodes, mais toujours honnête et juste. Un rôle dans lequel Rush se coule à la perfection, son talent théâtrale n'en émergeant qu'avec plus de force. Autour de ce duo central gravitent de nombreux seconds rôles qui ne déméritent pas face aux deux acteurs oscarisés : Helena Bonham Carter (tout en finesse et retenue, bien loin de ses compositions habituelles), Guy Pearce (racé et instable) ou encore Michael Gambon (impérial en George V). Cet somme de talents est alors mise en scène avec brio par Tom Hooper, dont la caméra révèle avec simplicité et justesse le portrait de ce Monarque. Au delà de l'aspect émotionnel, les prises de vue sont étonnantes de fluidité, prouvant que le réalisateur, malgré un seul long métrage à son actif avant le Discours d'un Roi (The Damned United), sait également maîtriser l'aspect technique d'un film. Jouant avec justesse sur les contre-plongées et les plongées, il parvient à nous révéler l'embarras ou le triomphe de George VI en une seule prise. Réussite qualitative tant sur un plan historique et sentimental que sur un plan technique, Le Discours d'un Roi n'usurpe en rien la flopée de récompenses qu'il récolta à travers le monde, et mérite incontestablement l'achat. Côté pratique, le coffret contient le dvd et le blu-ray, additionnés à un troisième disque de bonus, ainsi que les Mémoires de Logue dans un livre conséquent et le poster du film. Le coffret en lui-même, à défaut d'être gros, est solide et élégant de sobriété (le seul micro présent sur l'avant du coffret en dit plus long qu'une avalanche d'images).

I can enjoy fine movies with minimalist acting. Where the actors spend a lot of time saying nothing, but looking very serious, or hurt, or angry or whatever. The kind of the thing that lots of young American actors like to do these days. Where emotions are bottled up. This can be very effective. But sometimes, you just want to have a good, old-fashioned wallow in the kind of meaty, no-holds barred acting that, frankly, the British do best. And the best, most satisfying example of that this year is THE KING'S SPEECH, a terrific, interesting, engrossing and surprisingly emotional film about a monarch who stutters. In the years between the two great wars of the 20th Century, King George V ruled England and its colonies with a stern disposition and unshakeable self-confidence. His eldest son, Edward, is a dashing playboy type, but looks forward to his time on the throne. Younger son Albert ("Bertie") is shyer and more conservative...in large part because he has a rather pronounced stammer that years of consulting experts has done nothing to cure. He has a strong wife in Elizabeth, and dotes on his daughters Elizabeth and Margaret. And he has no ambitions to be king. His wife convinces him to start consulting with Speech Therapist Lionel Logue, a commoner with some highly uncomment techniques. Not only does he work on the mechanics of speech, but he believes that stammers also come from a psychological place as well. He's a sort of psychologist too. He works with the prince, insists that two men work on a first name basis, and through sheer force of his eccentric personality, begins to wear the reserved Albert down to the point where we learn much about his upbringing. And then, as WWII nears, George V dies and Edward serves only briefly, because the scandal of his love affair with divorced American Wallace Simpson forces him from the throne...and George is horrified to find himself about to be crowned. And eventually, George will have to give perhaps the most important nationwide radio address anyone had ever given in England up to that point...a speech rallying his people to the cause of war. He can ill afford to stammer his way through a speech that needs to inspire confidence and patriotism. It's a fascinating story, utterly engrossing. But it's the uniformly great acting that elevates this to such a high level. Small but effective parts are handled by folks such as Michael Gambon (King George V...excellent), Derek Jacobi as the archbishop, Guy Pearce as King Edward (he's quite good) and Jennifer Ehle in a small but delightful role as Logue's wife. Helena Bonham Carter is more restrained than usual, but also very effective as the Queen. She clearly dotes on her husband, which makes her very sympathetic, yet she also shows that the trappings and conventions of royalty suit her. The two appear to be that seeming rarity, a royal couple that are actually happy with each other. But all this great acting is just icing on the cake for the pure movie-going joy of watching Colin Firth (as King George VI) and Geoffrey Rush (as the uncommon commoner) go toe-to-toe. Both actors are at their finest. Rush can incline towards the hammy (as in the PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN movies) but when the script matches his natural characteristics (such as the unappreciated QUILLS)...he's just a joy to watch. His timing is exquisite and his commitment to his work is amazing. And Firth, though a more "restrained" actor, chews into his role with understated ferocity (this seems to make no sense...but see the film and you'll understand). He makes his Bertie so sympathetic...but rather than just playing a shy stammerer, we see his integrity, his wit, his pain and his explosive temper. His struggle against the casual attitude Logue takes with him is so much fun to watch, as are the great moments these two have together when they discover how well the King speaks when he is cursing. The two develop an odd but deeply affecting friendship. I don't know if the film presents history accurately...but it sure presents history as it would be nice to believe it happened. Both actors should be slam dunks for Oscar nominations...and Firth will be hard to beat. It may be his best "upper class British" performance to date. The film is a bit manipulative. The climactic moments being heavily punctuated with Beethoven seems a bit heavy handed. Some of the dialogue is just TOO good to be believed. But the two actors and their co-stars plow right through any weaknesses or pandering to the audience. A measure of the success of the film...my 23 year old son and 18 year old daughter loved it. For a film so far out of my son's comfort zone to grab him to the extent it did says a lot. This is a film worth seeking out and seeing immediately.

** 1 STAR FOR THE BLU-RAY DISC, NOT FOR THE MOVIE ** Do NOT buy this release of 'The King's Speech' by Momentum Pictures (EAN: 5060116726503, ASIN: B004L53CD2) — the video quality is very poor. After I started playing it and saw the quality I started checking and discovered that the disc is encoded in 1080i (NOT 1080p). Using 1080i encoding for a Blu-ray disc (especially for a recent movie) is very unusual and one can only suspect that Momentum Pictures did this to reduce costs. NOTE: other releases of this movie by other distribution companies ALL use 1080p. NOTE: the fact that the disc is 1080i not 1080p is NOT listed on the Amazon product page.