I seldom see movies in the theatre, but after watching the trailers and reading reviews, I decided this was worth the effort. (sometimes I get a kick out of gaffes, and I chuckled when one reviewer referred to King George VI's daughters as princesses Elizabeth and Charlotte. Huh?)
It is one of the finest movies I've seen, from the beginning to end. Colin Firth, ever brilliant, played the role of second-in-line Prince Albert (Bertie), Guy Pearce portrayed his older brother David (later to become King Edward VIII, for a while, that is) as an arrogant, self-absorbed man, and Helena Bonham Carter was delightful as the 'queen mum'. Geoffrey Rush was equally brilliant as Lionel Logue, the speech therapist whose unorthodox style helped the king overcome his personal demons which had paralyzed his public speaking efforts; and in the process, the two of them bridged the boundaries between royalty and commoner. Timothy Stall was excellent as Winston Churchill.
It ended at exactly the right time, following the King's inaugural broadcast to the nation. It was a moving experience, capped with an exquisite passage from Beethoven's 5th piano concerto as the credits rolled by.
I recommend this film.
