Thank You Note Community Service

THE SPEECH OF THE KING (GB, 2010) by Tom Hooper

There is a genre that knows no crisis, and that always comes out on time these days: is the so-called 'Oscar-winning film' : it is said, in fact, the produced classic 'perfect', well acted, with ultra-luxury box at the right and politically correct. They are films that seem built especially for gaining the highest number figurines possible (although not always the case), and allowing players the classic 'test as an actor', that is, a role specially packaged to enable a skilled interpreter to break the heart of the judges of the Academy. It must be said that the British are masters in this: the days of Shakespeare in Love , through Sense and Sensibility, Atonement, The Hours, The Queen, Howard ... or almost all strictly honored.

Here King's speech that is not chronologically the last member of this very particular kind, and fully reflects all the features listed so far: it has a pair of amazing actors ( Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush), a flawless script, an obsessive attention to detail (costumes, scenery, music, makeup). The classic film that, in short, is in your eyes like a work of art but ... mind you, without being at all.
Yes, because the films 'Oscar' have practically all the same weakness: they are highly accurate in staging, but difficult to excite and involve. I'm icy, detached, impersonal, and leave the actors' 'burden' to warm the hearts of the audience.

And King's speech is no exception to the rule without the 'golden couple' first cited would be very difficult to be caught by the enthusiasm for a story all in all not too interesting, and rather obscure to most: that of King George VI of England, father of Queen Elizabeth and quiet man, shy and unfriendly, with a 'defect 'rather embarrassing for a king: the stutterer and be antrofobico, so frightened and unable to utter a word whenever it needs to go out in public or read a speech on the radio, with millions of people listening. If so, then add that the king has experienced a difficult childhood, a physicist, not just an athlete, a health unstable and volatile character and temper, things get even more complicated ... of course all are consulted the most important psychologists and scientists of England, but nobody can get away from a spider hole. Until, as in fairy tales, here is that at some point materializes the 'savior' in the form of a speech therapist 'sui generis', failed playwright and ex-brewer, perennially penniless, whose unorthodox methods but is finally able to make effective read a speech to the sovereign acceptable e. .. very important: the declaration of war on Germany (we are in 1939).

be clear: I speak of history 'very interesting' in terms of film buff in the sense that I honestly did not feel the need to bring to the screen biography a king's stuttering. But I will not completely diminish nor to mock those who suffer from this disease, in the strongest terms. Also because only those who have suffered difficult to understand what it involves: great great shame and shyness, resulting in fear of dealing with the outside world. Stuttering is not disease but a mental state, psychological insecurity born, anxiety, fear of the people, and the only way to heal and seek to overcome these phobias achieving greater self-esteem and inner peace.
exactly what you need to understand the bewildered George VI 'Doctor' Logue (a good Geoffrey Rush) succeeding the end of its mission. And the final just happened, is the only truly moving moment, thanks to the usual performance-monster of Colin Firth, who books with few worries of mind the Oscar for best leading role. But it remains the only 'click' on a good film but 'plastered'.

RATING: * * *