The King's Speech

"I had to throw a few extra ones in so they knew it was me."

Tom Hooper's dramatisation of Prince Albert/King George VI's struggle with not only his speech impediment but also finding himself suddenly thrust into the royal limelight is a warm, humorous and classy film.

Colin Firth (Oscar-bound, surely?) gives a vanity-free performance; all dry mouthed and infuriated, his Bertie fluctuates between bemusement an frustration at his birth rights, privileges and a country's expectations and needs.  The film offers a fascinating glimpse into the public and private faces of a royal couple forced into a position they did not necessarily expect as Bertie's brother's abdication leaves him in a position he never truly thought he would face, and Firth is genuinely moving in the scenes in which his fears truly begin to show through.
Helena Bonham Carter's regally feisty Elizabeth is a wonderful study in these public and private royal faces.  She brings a great deal of humour to the film, especially in the moments in which she switches from Elizabeth to 'Your Royal Highness' in the blink of an eye.  She brilliantly portrays how, of the two of them, she is oddly more at home with the royal aspects of her life, having been trained rather than born into it.
Geoffrey Rush, however, is the real heart and soul of the film, breaking down Bertie's stubborn disapproval with some gentle stubbornness of his own, slowly but surely creating an environment in which Bertie can finally express himself.

The look of the film is cleverly focused on Bertie's isolation.  He is only truly positioned in the centre of the frame when acting on behalf of the monarchy.  The rest of the time he is unceremoniously squeezed into the side and corners of shots, awkwardly trying to find his place and clearly uncomfortable in his position - both physical and emotional.
Alexandre Desplat's gentle, lilting score aids the tone brilliantly, delivering warm, simple melodies that enhance the light, lyrical feel of the film.

A thoroughly enjoyable watch filled with great performances and pulled together with wonderful cinematography for a very classy film - 9/10