The King's Speech
I marvelled again at the acting and the scriptwriting - such an intelligent, thoughtful film - which pulls together seemingly separate threads.
The future king's inability to speak without stammering to a complete halt - with the final delivery of his his most important speech to the nation - in which Britain finally declared war on Hitler and Germany.
I defy any Republican and anti-monarchist to watch the scene where the future king recalls his childhood - the cruel treatment at the hands of his nanny and the emotional detachment of his own parents - without bringing a small tear to the eye.
Here's what I wrote earlier in 2011 - I wonder what the film awards and oscars have in store for us in 2012?
Because it will have to be a great movie - to reach the same standard as The King's Speech.
The King's Speech (January 24th 2011)
I went to see The King's Speech at the cinema over the weekend - and the good news is that it's every bit as good as it's cracked up to be.
Nothing remotely to do with equal pay of course - just an everyday tale of a man (albeit not any old man) with a terrible, debilitating stammer - confronting then controlling his personal demons.
Now I'm no royalist or admirer of the monarchy - but the brilliance of The King's Speech is that ultimately it's very human tale - very sad and poignant at times - yet told with great humour and affection.
The two hours simply sailed by - with scarcely a special effect in sight - instead the film relies on a rattling good script and good old-fashioned acting - particularly from Colin Firth who plays the lead role of King George VI.
A nice touch is that Derek Jacobi - the eponymous stammering hero of the BBC's 'I, Claudius' many years ago - appears as the Archbishop of Canterbury, though without stumbling over his lines this time.
Geoffery Rush nearly steals the show in his role as the King's confidante and speech therapist - Lionel Logue - as does Helena Bonham Carter who plays the Queen Mum.
But the film belongs to Colin Firth for a virtuoso performance - of such enormous humanity and warmth.
The real King's speech - which gives the the film its name (and declares war on Germany) - is very short and direct by modern standards - in fact all substance and no spin.
But at the time few could have foreseen the horrors about to be unleashed - in the fight that followed against the Nazis - and their fascist allies.
