Highly Recommended
This sounds like such a small movie when it is described. A lesser known facet of King George the VI's rule as king of England after his brother abdicated seems like an odd premise for a movie, let alone one worthy of Oscar.
Watching Colin Firth portray a deeply wounded soul whose pain emerges in stutters, and watching Geoffrey Rush try to balance his desire to help and befriend this man with his natural (and resented) awe of royalty, it is clear that this is the story of a personal relationship with so many facets that the partners in it have a hard time deciding which role they are playing at any given time. Friend, subject, prince, healer, patient; all are beautifully delineated by these two actors.
The surrounding cast is also excellent, particularly Helena Bonham Carter, moving beyond her recent roles as whacked out cartoons. She, with true British understatement, conveys the agony of watching a loved one in pain when she can do nothing about it, although she tries. This particular friendship had worldwide impact also, as King George emerged as an inspiring leader to his people in time of war. But it is the pained (and painful to watch) Bertie we cheer for.
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