It is estimated that the number one fear among most people is public speaking. Three out of four people have trouble with speech anxiety and fear it even more than death. If you happen to be the Duke of York, eventual heir to the throne of England, and you have a stammer, this fear must be intolerable.
This is the case in Tom Hooper's new film The King's Speech, which tells the story of Albert, the Duke of York (Colin Firth), often called "Bertie", coping with and eventually overcoming his speech impediment. Aiding him in his quest for normal speech is a speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), who uses unorthodox methods of muscle relaxing, tongue twisters, and even cursing to allow Albert to speak more clearly. The film opens with a shot of a microphone, a shot that reprises itself several times and is an instrumental device in the story. The Duke and his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) stand in a stairwell, nervously. Albert is nervous, of course, because he must address thousands of people, and Elizabeth is nervous because she wants desperately for her husband to do well.
The first scene takes place in 1925 at Wembley Stadium. The occasion is the British Empire Exhibition and Albert must give the opening speech. He steps up to the mic, looking terrified and only manages a couple of sentences before the camera mercifully cuts to the next scene. Albert sees a doctor to help with the stammer, and the doctor prescribes sterilized marbles to be inserted into the Duke's mouth while he reads. This method is archaic and ineffective, and Albert leaves in frustration, telling his wife he wants no more treatment. Elizabeth still believes that someone can help her husband, and she sets off to see a speech therapist named Lionel Logue. When the sessions begin, Logue insists that he and Albert be on a first-name basis. Albert is slightly offended but eventually agrees, and in that first session Logue shows him that he can talk without stammering by putting headphones on his head and having him read while listening to classical music.
The rest of the film depicts the relationship developed between between Logue and Albert (whom Logue calls "Bertie" which is a name only his family has ever used). This is pivotal because in order to really get through to Albert, Logue must become his friend. The final scenes of this film, after Albert becomes King George VI and gives his most important speech, are wonderful. Director Tom Hooper took a man standing in front of a microphone reading off of three sheets of paper, and transformed it into the most moving and touching scene of the film.
If Colin Firth wins the Best Actor Oscar for his performance, it will be well deserved. Geoffrey Rush is also excellent as Lionel Logue. Also, Helena Bonham Carter is sure to receive an Oscar nod for her performance as Albert's wife Elizabeth. She has nothing but confidence and hope for her husband and sticks by his side throughout the entire ordeal. Tom Hooper's direction is masterful, especially in the last scene. He could win best director for that scene alone.
All in all, The King's Speech could very well be the best film of the year. It will surely come down between this and The Social Network. While I have not seen The Social Network, but plan to, it will have its work cut out for it after seeing The King's Speech. Not only is it a tale of a sympathetic figure overcoming an obstacle, it's a tale of a sympathetic figure overcoming an obstacle done remarkably well.
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