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This year I went against my traditions – I did not stay up late and rather laid in bed sleeping while the Academy Award ceremony took place. From what I have heard afterwards, it was a good decision, since the Oscars seemed to have been not surprising and some what even boring. But the good news was that I was fit enough the next night to go out with my university girls to the movies. As exemplary English majors we chose “The King’s Speech” in English, since we all figured it would win at least one Oscar. And how we were right: “Best Picture”, “Best Performance of an Actor in a Leading Role”, “Best Director” and “Best Original Screenplay”. Now it was time for us to see, if we thought the same way about the movie and if the Oscars were legitimate.

Cinestar.de describes the movie as followed:

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond.

General: It was the first time that I went into an English movie at its new premises. The Frankfurt movie theatre, which showed all movies in its original language closed last year and the big movie theatre here in Frankfurt then started showing them. Unfortunately, “The King’s Speech” hat subtitles in German as well, which drove me crazy the first half hour of the movie. Not only because of being distracted by wording on the bottom of the screen, but also by the really bad translation into German. Other than that, the directing and shots of the movie are extraordinary in several parts.

Cast: I have only seen Geoffrey Rush in mainstream movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean”. After seeing him in “The King’s Speech”, I definitely need to watch more movies with him. Him in the role of a speech therapist was very convincing and he gave the character a certain edge, which I liked very much. His gestures and facial expressions, as well as his emotions, were amazing. Too bad that he did not win the Oscar for “Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role”! But even better, and therefore well deserved owner of the Oscar, was Colin Firth. I cannot imagine, how difficult it must be to stutter. In no scene throughout the whole movie did I question his acting or found him not convincing. Everything seemed so real and simply great. Hats off for Colin!

Upshot: Granted, it is a Historic Film, but the focus is very much set on the characters themselves, so that even a non-history-fan can enjoy the movie. The acting achievements in this movie are simply extraordinary and therefore the characters came across very real and authentic. Together with an amazing script, “The King’s Speech” is a must-see movie, even if one only watches it, to pay tribute to a great cast!

10/10