The King's Speech and The Man Behind The King's Speech movie reviews

Recently I watched the critically acclaimed film "The King's Speech" and the documentary "The Man Behind The King's Speech" based on the film which tells the true story of the stammering King George VI. Albert Frederick Arthur George(Colin Firth) , Duke of York  known by his family as "Bertie" has a terrible stammer. He can't speak in public so when he is called upon to become the king after the death of his father George V(Michael Gambon) and the abdication of his brother Edward VIII(Guy Pearce) he is not prepared. His wife Elizabeth(Helena Bonham Carter) searches for a speech therapist to treat her husband and finally comes across Australian Lionel Logue(Geoffrey Rush) who is a self-taught unlicensed therapist with innovative methods of therapy. At first Bertie is closed off from Lionel but their friendship grows as time goes on. The film shows that even one conflicted with a terrible impediment in a stressful time can overcome fear and achieve greatness.

This film was very well done. If you remember, in 2011 the movie won Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards; when you see the film it is obvious. The film was directed by Tom Hooper who also directed Les Misérables and John Adams. All of the major events that occurred in this movie were historically accurate and necessary to the story line. I felt at points the film could be a bit boring but nothing could have been removed from the story. The cinematography was also interesting in this film. There were some odd wide angles of faces during speeches; some felt unnatural but most of these shots helped the story. I could see Bertie's slight quivers in his jaw and eyes as he speaks displaying his nevousness. There were many nice shots in this film such as cameras in and outside cars, in elevators, close up conversations and wide landscape shots. The writing was great in this film as well. The dialogue was natural and wasn't loaded with exposition. Bertie had great development through the film starting off as a nervous, self conscious Duke and turning into a more confident individual as his nervousness and royal attitude shed. He had great chemistry with both Elizabeth and Lionel, who served as a nice contrast to the royalty. However, the pacing was slow in this film especially in the beginning. The plot sometimes got bogged down in talk of politics and royalty. There were many side characters who I could not remember the names or personalities of. The lead characters were well written though. Along with Bertie, Elizabeth and Lionel had interesting personalities. She was clever and looked out for her husband and he was charming and tries his best to help Bertie. Overall, the writing was smooth and consistent. The editing flowed smoothly from scene to scene and the lighting made good contrasts. In the beginning the smoggy London was dark and somber but by the end the setting had brightened and cleared. The costumes were beautiful and historically accurate. The queen had fur coats and many jewels. Bertie had a traditional embellished uniform while Lionel had a simple suit that fit his character. The set design added to the royal tone with historically accurate sets that included grand halls, empty echoing rooms and large palaces with lavish furniture. The film was actually made in various locations around England in the same places the story took place. The score worked well with the scenes, flowing from scene to scene well. The opening music sets the tone nicely and quiet violin grows tension as it progresses. The music flows with dialogue and grows at speeches and big moments. All of these elements come together well in the end making a great film.     

King George VI: The Man Behind The King's Speech is a simple hour-long documentary accompanying the film. It shows interviews with Firth, Hooper, Mark Logue (Lionel's grandson who wrote a book about Bertie's story with the same name) and historians who told the story of the king's life. A majority of the film was actual footage from the time including the actual king making his speeches. This isn't anything spectacular but if you are a fan of the movie and want more behind-the-scenes knowledge this is on Netflix for your enjoyment.