The King's Speech **** (rave)

Last September during the Toronto Film Festival, the two movies that were getting a lot of buzz were Black Swan and The King's Speech. I've seen both now and although I do intend to write about Black Swan later, I wanted to start with my personal favourite of the two, Tom Hooper's The King's Speech.

If you haven't already seen it (or at least heard about it) this movie is based on the true story of King George VI and his attempts to overcome his debilitating speech impediment while ruling a country as it heads into another World War. Colin Firth stars as George "Bertie" VI and he encapsulates the frustration, fear and determination of this would-be-king. Geoffrey Rush plays the unconventional speech therapist that is enlisted by George's wife Elizabeth (played by Helena Bonham Carter) to help George gain the confidence he needs to find his voice.

The acting in this movie is superb. Firth is receiving much attention and awards for his performance and, in my opinion, it is rightly deserved. I've always been a fan of Colin Firth's (he had me at Mr. Darcy) and in the role of Bertie, he is vulnerable, witty and short -tempered. As the story progresses, he eventually forms a friendship with his wannabe actor speech therapist and as he opens up to him, Firth's character exposes some of the pressures and expectations placed upon a young boy growing up within the Monarchy. We instantly feel empathy for Bertie's plight and can't help but struggle with him as his stammers through the telling of his story.

The power of speech is the theme of the film and it is never lost on the viewers. The opening scene sets the tone in an instant - the microphone: ominous and powerful in nature. Watching the broadcaster prepare for it was not unlike watching a matador (albeit a small British man) preparing to conquer the bull.

The cinematography and sets in the movie are stunning. The walls (and in some instances the wallpaper covering them) seem to have a life of their own as they surround and frame the characters. Occasionally, it does feel as if you are looking onto a stage, as oppose to being enveloped in a room, but perhaps this is what Hooper intended - incorporating a theatre stage setting for Rush's character Lionel to work upon.

This movie is definitely going to receive some Oscar recognition. And if you're someone like me who likes to see all the "Best Picture" contenders, I suggest you go out and see what all the buzz is about. If you like a good drama, I can assure you you won't be disappointed.