Enthusiastic reviews about "The King Says!" should make any true movie fan sure to get acquainted with this 2010 film. This is a biographical drama directed by Tom Hooper, which tells how the British king George VI managed to cure stuttering using the methods of the famous Australian self-taught speech therapist Lionel Log. The picture has collected many prestigious awards and nominations at the largest film forums. The main roles in it were played by Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Jeffrey Rush. This article will focus on the plot of the picture and the actors who participated in the creation of this masterpiece. It will also provide feedback from viewers.
Process of creation
Most often, there are positive reviews about the "King says!". With a relatively modest production budget of $ 15 million, the film collected 400 million just a few months after it was released.
The director himself says that he was fascinated by a story about which, as it turned out, few had known before. This is really surprising when a person with a stutter becomes a king at a time when the radio plays a major role in disseminating information. The failed director from Australia, who became a speech therapist, helps him cope with these problems.
I learned about this story Tom Hooper by accident. He says that his mother, who worked as a theater actress, was at the theater reading a play that had never been staged before. She was so impressed that, returning home, she immediately told her son that she had found a new film for him.
Plot
The film "The King Says!" begins with a closing speech by the Duke of Albert of York, son of the current British ruler, George V, at an imperial exhibition in front of spectators who gathered at Wembley Stadium, and numerous radio listeners. This experience is unsuccessful and completely disastrous. Albert constantly stutters, speaks inaudibly and with pauses, most of the phrase uttered by him remains completely incomprehensible to the public.
Nine years pass, but Albert still does not manage to solve his problems with stuttering, although he constantly visits numerous speech therapists. In the future, he will become king, so numerous public appearances simply can not be avoided. At the next session, which was watched by the audience of the movie “The King Speaks!”, The man almost choked on the balls (it was necessary to speak with his mouth full). After that, Bertie, as his relatives and friends call him, declares that he will never again attend sessions with his doctor. Only Albert’s wife, Elizabeth, continues to push him to deal with the problem. She finds an Australian teacher Lionel Log, famous for using contradictory and unorthodox methods in her work that give the desired result. She turns to Logue incognito, pretending to be Johnson. Elizabeth asks a speech therapist to come to them to meet her husband, who needs help. The log refuses, stating that all patients should come to him on their own. He does not intend to make an exception.
Elizabeth is struck by his integrity. She should persuade Albert to go to an appointment with Logu with great efforts. It is noteworthy that the content of the movie "The King Speaks!" in many ways similar to real events. At the first meeting, a speech therapist instructs Albert to read the classic monologue from the Shakespeare's Hamlet, To Be or Not to Be. At the same time, he puts headphones on the prince so that he does not have the opportunity to hear his own voice. Albert is skeptical of the methods of an Australian speech therapist, but he gives him a goodbye recording of his own speech. At home, Albert listens to her. It turns out that he read the entire monologue without stuttering, after which he decides to study with Log. A speech therapist forces the prince to develop a diaphragm, facial muscles, and read tongue twisters. In the picture, much attention is paid to various intonations of the English language, so some people prefer to watch the movie "The King Speaks!" With subtitles. Only in this case is it possible to realize all the nuances of speech, the way Albert manages to go. Of course, to watch the movie "The King Speaks!" with Russian subtitles, you need to be fluent in English. In this case, you will be able to clearly trace how the future king of England gradually, but confidently begins to correct his speech. After watching the movie "The King Speaks!" in English, you will immediately see what progress is happening with Albert in terms of overcoming his own ailment.
His father George V dies at the very beginning of 1936. The throne is occupied by the older brother of Albert, who becomes King Edward VIII. However, the monarch is too unpopular, mainly because of his ties with the American Wallis Simpson, with whom she has a romantic relationship, despite the fact that she is formally married, although she is going to file for divorce. When he officially announces his intention to marry his passion, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang begin to pressure him, forcing him to abdicate in order to be calm with his beloved. Otherwise, a real political crisis may erupt in the country.
Albert is very worried about becoming a king. He tells his speech therapist Log about this, claiming that he is going to try to keep the throne behind his brother. However, he objected to him, arguing that it was Albert who had the place on the British throne. These statements are extremely disliked by the prince, he quarrels with the doctor. At the same time, he announces that their classes are over, they will not meet again.
In December, Edward VIII nevertheless officially abdicated. King George VI becomes Prince Albert. His wife Elizabeth, who has now become the queen, persuades her husband to resume studies with Log, as he will have to give a coronation speech ahead of him, which should inspire the nation in this difficult time.
At this time, British services find out that Log worked in the UK illegally. He does not have a diploma in medical education. Instead of the Log, the archbishop offers the king another doctor. Log assures George that, despite his lack of formal education, he has extensive experience in treating Australians who suffered during the First World War. George VI, who himself is a war veteran, decides that it will be Log who will prepare the speech for the coronation, which is to take place at Westminster Abbey.
The situation escalates when, in 1939, Germany unleashes the Second World War. As early as September 3, the British cabinet minister Chamberlain declares war on Germany. The king, under the guidance of Log, delivers a nine-minute appeal to people on the radio, whose goal is to rally the nation. The speech of George VI, as shown in the film, was a huge success. Radio station employees cheer him off with a standing ovation when the king, along with his relatives, greets the public from Buckingham Palace. There he is already greeted by crowds of enthusiastic residents of London who greet their monarch.
Producer
The director of the English film "The King Speaks!" became Tom Hooper, who is now 46 years old. He was born in London. He took off his first short film when he was 13 years old.
He made his full debut in 2001 with the tape “Love in a Cold Climate,” followed by several more works that went unnoticed by the Russian audience - Daniel Deronda, Red Dust, Longford.
In 2005, Hooper made a television mini-series about the life and years of the reign of British Queen Elizabeth I, in 2008 the biographical historical drama John Adams was released, also in the form of a mini-series. The film tells about the first few decades of the United States, as well as a prominent figure in the First American Bourgeois Revolution, Adams, who became the second president.
In 2009, Hooper thundered with the sports tragicomedy “Damned United”, which described the work of Brian Clough as head coach of the Leeds United football club.
This film is a film adaptation of a real existing story about one of the most striking English coaches, who is called the best among those who have never coached the national team. In 1974, Clough became the head coach of Leeds after the previous mentor Don Revi leaves to work in the national team. For the public, this appointment becomes a shock, since Brian had previously constantly criticized Leeds, accusing his players of quackery and simulations, while the team’s game was called limited and rotten. The players hated him. Clough stayed as the head coach of “Leeds” for only 44 days. He failed to reach an understanding with the players and staff. The team held seven matches in which it was able to win only one, played a draw three times and lost three times. After that, Clough goes to Nottingham Forest, which plays in the second division. Leads the team to the Premier League, wins with it the championship of England, two Champions Cups. Viewers will already learn about this from the epilogue of the film.
After the success of the tape "King says!" Hooper removes the dramatic musical Les Miserables based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. In 2015, the biographical drama Girl from Denmark is released, telling about the first transgender woman in the world, Lily Elbe, who underwent a sex change operation.
It is worth noting that Hooper makes a lot of films similar to "The King Speaks!" Most of his works are biographical dramas in which he approaches the reproduction of current events with meticulous precision.
Hooper is currently trying a new role. He is filming the fantasy series Dark Beginnings.
Awards and nominations
The described tape was immediately placed in the category of good films. "The king is talking!" received his first Audience Award at the Toronto International Festival. For the Golden Globe Award, the picture was presented in seven categories, but only Colin Firth, as the best dramatic actor, managed to win the victory.
The film has become the undisputed leader among applicants for the BAFTA Award. The tape was presented in 14 categories, having managed to win awards in half of them, including being recognized as the best film of the year.
The film "The King Says!" 2010 was presented in 12 nominations for Oscars. As a result, the picture was recognized as the best film, ahead of competitors such as The Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky, The Fighter by David Russell, The Kids Are Alright by Lisa Kholodenko, The Beginning by Christopher Nolan, The Social Network by David Fincher, 127 hours "Danny Boyle," Toy Story: The Great Escape "by Lee Ankrich," Winter Bone "by Debra Granik," Iron Grip "of the Coen brothers.
Tom Hooper received a prize as the best director, Colin Firth won the Oscar in the nomination for Best Actor, and David Saydler received a prize for the original screenplay.
Original soundtrack
Pretended to the Academy Award film and in the nomination "Best Music". The author of more than ten compositions was the famous French composer Alexander Desplat.
Currently, he is considered one of the most sought-after composers in world cinema. Despla was nominated for an Oscar seven times, twice he managed to win music for Wes Anderson’s tragicomedy Grand Hotel Budapest and the dramatic thriller Guillermo del Toro Water Form.
He is also known as the author of soundtracks in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", the film about Harry Potter, the films "Twilight. Saga. New Moon", "Peerless Mr. Fox", "Girl with a Pearl Earring".
Music in the movie "The King Speaks!" it was really outstanding and memorable, but Atticus Ross and Tret Reznor received the Oscars for the soundtrack to the drama Social Network.
Colin Firth
The role of the British king in this film has become one of Colin Firth’s most successful career. The Englishman was born in Hampshire in 1960.
He began his career in 1984, making his debut in the drama Marek Kanievsky "Another Country". However, for a long time he went unnoticed by critics and spectators, receiving mostly minor roles.
A breakthrough in his career was the role of Mr. Darcy in the television adaptation of Austin’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, in the mid-1990s. Four years later, he received the US Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Feature in Feature Films in John Madden’s tragicomedy “Shakespeare in Love,” where he played the role of Lord Wessex.
Real fame came to him in 2009 after the release of Tom Ford’s drama “The Lonely Man”, which Firth played the British professor of English literature of non-traditional sexual orientation, who lives in Southern California in 1962. For this image, Firth received his first career nomination for an Oscar and a prize at the Venice Festival for Best Actor.
The very next year, it was still possible to win the treasured statuette when the actor played in the movie "The King Speaks!"
Among his recent works, it is worth noting Thomas Alfredson's detective thriller "Spy, Get Out!", Woody Allen's romantic comedy "Moonlight Magic", Rob Marshall's fantasy musical "Mary Poppins Returns".
Jeffrey rush
Australian Rush was born in Queensland in 1951. He studied art at a local university and began working in a theater company. A few years later he left for France, where he improved his acting skills at the school of the world-famous mime Jacques Lecock. Returning to Australia in 1977, he continued his theatrical career, which was very successful.
In the movie, Rush made his debut in the early 1980s. The criminal melodrama "Fooling" became his debut. Then for a decade and a half he practically did not appear in the cinema. A key role in his film career was played by Scott Hicks's drama "Glitter" about pianist David Helfgott. She was released in 1996. For the performance of this role, Rush immediately received the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award.
Having achieved success, he concentrated his attention on cinema, becoming less likely to play theater. Rush earned popularity among the mass audience after he created the image of Captain Barbossa in the 2003 film “The Curse of the Black Pearl” from the series “Pirates of the Caribbean”. By that time, he had twice claimed the Oscar. In 1999, he lost in the fight in the category "Best Supporting Actor" to Robin Williams, who played Sean Maguire in the drama of Gus Van Sant "Clever Will Hunting." Rush himself was nominated for the image of Philip Henslow in the melodrama Shakespeare in Love.
In 2001, Rush claimed victory in the Best Actor role by playing the title character in a dramatic biography of Philip Kaufman called The Feather of the Marquis de Sade. However, that year, film academics awarded victory to Russell Crowe for the image of Maximus in Ridley Scott's drama "The Gladiator."
He turned out to be among the heroes of the movie "The King Speaks!" For this work, Rush received another Oscar nomination. Now as the best supporting actor, but Christian Bale received the award for David Russell’s sports drama “The Fighter”.
In recent years, Rush continues to shine with vivid and memorable roles. In particular, in Giuseppe Tornatore’s melodrama “The Best Offer”, Brian Percival’s military drama “The Book Thief”, and Stanley Tucci’s biographical drama “The Last Portrait”.
Helena Bonham Carter
English actress Helena Bonham Carter began her acting career in 1983. She was born in London in 1966. Her family was well-known and wealthy, the actress is the great-granddaughter of the 52nd British Prime Minister Lord Herbert Henry Asquith, who led the government from 1908 to 1916.
In childhood, she had to endure many difficulties. When Helena was only five years old, her mother suffered a nervous breakdown, after which she regained consciousness for another three years. After that, she became a psychotherapist. Just a few years after mother’s recovery, Helena’s father was deaf in one ear. The tumor was removed, but the operation led to a stroke. As a result, he was confined to a wheelchair. The girl and her two brothers had to leave college to help her mother in this position.
In the movie, Carter played her first major role in Trevor Nunn’s historical drama “Lady Jane”, playing the granddaughter of Henry VIII. In 1986, she played one of her main roles at the beginning of her career in James Ivory's melodrama Room with a View.
Thanks to numerous films in the 80s, the actress gained a reputation as the “Queen of Corsets” and “English Rose”. Among her striking works in the 1990s, it is worth noting the image of Olivia, created in the comedy melodrama of Trevor Nunn "Twelfth Night" based on the play of William Shakespeare. In 1997, she played in Ian Softley's drama Wings of a Dove, receiving an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for this work.
She gained popularity among the mass audience in the film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel "Fight Club", staged by David Fincher. After this role, she managed to get rid of her stereotypical role, becoming for many American girls a role model.
Her other bright work in Hollywood is the role of Mrs. Bucket in Tim Burton's fantastic musical comedy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. From 2007 to 2011, Bonham Carter starred in the Harry Potter franchise, playing Bellatrix Lestrange. In 2007, she again began working with Tim Burton, playing the main female role in the dramatic thriller Sweeney Todd, a demon barber from Fleet Street.
She also participated in the feed to which this article is devoted. That's who played Elizabeth in the movie "The King Speaks!" Her character was Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the mother of the current British queen. She constantly supported her husband, even when, unexpectedly for many, he became a monarch after the abdication of his older brother. Before the start of World War II, she accompanied her husband on diplomatic trips to the United States and France. Many were interested in who played the queen in the movie "The King Speaks!" So bright and memorable was this work. This work brought Bonham Carter another Oscar nomination, but Melissa Leo received the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Among the works of the actress of recent times, it is worth noting the image of Miss Havisham in the drama of Mike Newell, which became the film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens "Great Expectations." She can also be remembered for her role as Red Harrington in Mount Verbinsky's comedy western Lone Ranger, Dr. Claire Spivet in the adventure family drama Jean-Pierre Genet, The Incredible Journey of Mr. Spivet, fashion designer Rose Wyle in the crime comedy Gary Ross, Ocean's Eight Friends, Of the Red Queen in the adventure comedy fantasy James Bobin "Alice through the Looking Glass".
Guy pierce
In the movie "The King Speaks!" (2010) actor Guy Pearce played King Edward VIII, the same one who had to abandon the throne, becoming the Duke of Windsor.
Pierce is a famous actor who was born in England, but spent almost his entire life in Australia. His family moved there when Guy was only three years old. His mother began to breed deer. When the future actor was nine years old, his father died in a car accident. Guy from an early age was fond of theater, at the age of 11 he first appeared on the stage.
From the age of 17 he already sent out his portfolio on TV channels. He was invited to audition for the soap opera Neighbors, which became the most successful series in Australian television history. Together with James Donovan and Kylie Minogue, he played one of the main roles.
A real breakthrough in his career occurred in 1994, when he received the memorable role of a transvestite in the scandalous tragicomedy of Stephen Elliott "The Adventures of Priscilla, the Queen of the Desert." Wide popularity came to him in 1996 after playing the main role in Frank Howson's biographical drama "My Forgotten Man" about the fate of the Hollywood star Errol Flynn.
Since 1997, Pierce began playing in Hollywood. His first film was the successful thriller Los Angeles Secrets. Perhaps the most striking work in his career is the role of Leonard Shelby in the thriller Christopher Nolan's Remember.
He received approving reviews for the film “The King Speaks!”, Appearing in the image of Edward VIII. After that, he starred in Guillermo del Toro’s horror film “Don't Be Afraid of the Darkness”, Todd Haines’ drama series “Mildred Pierce”, and Ridley Scott’s science fiction action movie “Prometheus”. Over time, Shane Black's fantastic action movie "Iron Man 3", the post-apocalyptic thriller of David Michaud's "Rover", the anti-utopian melodrama of Drake Dorimus's "Equal", the drama by Michael Grandage "The Genius", the detective thriller Martin Culhoven "Underworld" appeared on the screens.
Spectator Impressions
Most viewers left positive reviews for the movie "The King Says!" 2010 year. Many viewers like the fact that the picture tells about historical events that really happened. The undoubted distinguishing feature of this tape is its conditional historicity, since Hooper does not tell the story of the rule of the royal family, but the story of a specific person who is endowed with the most noble qualities by nature. This is what, judging by the reviews of the movie "The King Speaks!", Most viewers liked it.
On the way of the king there are many obstacles that he sooner or later overcomes. On the screen in front of the audience - not a majestic and unattainable monarch, but the most ordinary person. In reviews of "The King Says!" it was especially emphasized that the director, along with Colin Firth, managed to create the image of a real person. A person who is at times unsure of himself doubts that he can bear the burden placed upon him.
At the same time, the plot is based on a completely standard conflict about the ability to overcome oneself. And yet, viewers in their reviews of the movie "King Says" (2010) emphasize that this picture compares favorably with their own kind. Her English grace, humanity, delicacy and accuracy look advantageous in her.
The work of Colin Firth is simply mesmerizing. Numerous film critics in their reviews of "The King Says!" (2010) respectfully mention the game of this actor. He showed George a vulnerable, lively and strong-willed man.
At the same time, you can find negative reviews about the "King says!" (2010). Those who did not like the tape emphasized that the problems themselves raised by the director seemed to them far-fetched. It is irrelevant and inappropriate on the eve of the next world war to talk about the problems of a person who cannot speak without hesitation when there are many really important tasks that require urgent solutions. Some found the picture boring and too long. In such reviews, "The King Says!" set very low ratings.