The King's Speech

A masterpiece. This is the spellbinding story of King George VI’s battle with a debilitating stammer and of Lionel Logue, his speech therapist, who helps him through all of the speeches that he delivered during the course of WW2. If you think this sounds like a recipe for dull fare, you could not be more wrong. This film is so well made that you will be on the edge of your seat, literally mouthing the words along with Bertie, as Lionel Logue insists on calling the King, as he painfully, but bravely, battles through his speeches. The performances of Colin Firth as King George and Geoffrey Rush as Logue are at the very height of the craft. Both will get Academy nominations, and both may win. You can see every nuance of humiliation and frustration suffered by the King on the face of Colin Firth. Rush brilliantly underplays the eccentricity of the unqualified Australian therapist, who must walk a fine line to be able to help the King. This may be the best picture of 2010. It has already cleaned up at the BFIs and the Golden Globe nominations are in the bag.