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The King's Speech

95 replies

FelicityParpworth · 06/01/2011 18:06

I saw a preview yesterday. It is excellent, just a wonderful film. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are superb in it, even Helena BC (who I have an irrational dislike of) was great. There are some lovely witty bits to counteract the more serious parts.
I can't recommend it enough. If you aren't moved by the end I would suggest that you are either a) made of stone or b) perhaps haven't understood and should get back creating tickers over at the other site Wink

I'll be interested to hear some more reviews when others have been to see it.

OP posts:
jugglingjo · 10/01/2011 12:51

Thanks Mapp&

I'm not too worried by swearing, it's the endless violence and aggression on screen I try to stay clear of !

mistressploppy · 10/01/2011 12:53

I can't wait to see it - I'm a speech therapist and want to see how they do it!

AitchTwoOh · 10/01/2011 12:55

AHA!
any idea how i can encourage dd (2) to pronounce s, c, t, k etc? it's all coming out dth at the moment and it's driving her nuts...

LindyHemming · 10/01/2011 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mistressploppy · 10/01/2011 13:09

Well, I (used to) work with neuro-impaired adults, but my training was in kids too - at 2 I'd say that was pretty normal, but if you want to have a go.....see if she can hear the difference first, ie you point at a pic and say is that a 'tea' or a 'key'? Or try doing long sounds and short sounds and she tells you which they are ('sssssssss' is long, 't' is short - demonstrate visually with bits of string)

Then when you know she can hear the difference, you can try making sounds, maybe in the mirror, using the front-t-t of the mouth for 't' 'd' 's' and the back-k-k-k for 'k' 'g' 'c'

TBH she's only 2 (a practising SLT would send you packing, I reckon Grin)I wouldn't bother if she understands you and you understand her though!

AitchTwoOh · 10/01/2011 13:12

cheers for that, we understand her -ish. at the moment her vocab is expanding so rapidly that she is getting really cross when we don't though. Grin lots of foot-stamping.

IWillCountToThree · 10/01/2011 13:15

Glad to hear it's such a good film, i'm taking MIL to see it next week!

thereistheball · 10/01/2011 13:17

Lots and lots of swearing 'in a speech therapy context' according to the guidelines Smile

It's a good film. I thought the historical context-setting was a touch heavy-handed but I suppose it was necessary for the US audience. Colin Firth is wonderful, and Geoffrey Rush and HBC.

Redazzy · 10/01/2011 13:28

Please don't worry about the swearing, it is purely used in a therapy setting. Dh and I have had the conversation about this issue and while our ds is only 7 and would not yet sit through this film, I would happiy let him. He is fully aware of the 'f' word (whoops!) but knows that it is a rude word and not to be used.

The film is wonderful, thought provoking, funny and moving with amazing performances from all the cast. I have been quite consumed by the history of the time since I saw it and have watched the actual video footage of one of George VI's speeches. Colin Firth does a wonderful job in demonstrating the pain and humiliation such a man (pushed by birth into such a public position) must have felt. Simply, the best film I have seen in many a year.

LetThereBeRock · 10/01/2011 13:53

I'm hoping to see it this week and can't wait.

I suspect a box or two of Kleenex will be required.

wonka · 10/01/2011 14:02

We went last night, abbsolutly terrific!
Best film I've seen for months (we go every week)

jacksgrannie · 10/01/2011 14:24

Wonderful, wonderful film. Saw it on Friday and would have gone straight back in to see it again except the next performance was sold out.

Really - you must go and see it. I thought after all the hype I would be disappointed but there was nothing I could find to criticise. The depiction of George VI struggling with his impediment is incredibly moving.

CF must get an OSCAR for this. All the cast are tremendous. Geoffrey Rush of course and I really admired Helena Bonham-Carter's portrayal of the Queen Mother.

OK - will stop gushing now.

LWRF · 10/01/2011 14:40

Absolutely loved it, Brilliant!Brilliant!Brilliant!!!!!!!!!! will bet ££££££ on CF getting Oscar as best leading actor and GR as suppporting actor..seriously will bet for the 1st time so sure I'm...

BrandyAlexander · 10/01/2011 15:42

Oooh, I am really looking forward to it! Loved reading all the comments so far. :)

CaveMum · 10/01/2011 16:08

Really looking forward to seeing this.

As an aside, it is interesting how little we know/are aware of about "recent" events with the Royals.

Personally I was unaware that George VI had a speech impediment until a few years ago and was totally unaware of the existence of his brother, Prince John, until the BBC made The Lost Prince in 2003.

The teaching of the history of the monarchy in schools is so obsessed with the Tudors and, to a lesser extent, Queen Victoria that we tend to forget about the other interesting stories out there.

LottieCrump · 10/01/2011 16:23

I saw this on Friday evening and also loved it.

Just to add though, I was surprised and delighted to see the return of Anthony Andrews who really gave an excellent and emotive performance as Baldwin - especially his resignation speech to the king.
I really feel that he came back with a bang!

Northernlurker · 10/01/2011 16:49

I saw it last night. I wasn't moved at the end at all tbh but I was during at a couple of points. The scenes with the little princesses were very strong and I found Lionel's family listening to the declaration of war to be very touching. His sons - and the poor men he'd seen after the first world war - it was all there. I thought Geoffrey Rush was very strong and Helena B-C was brillant. There was one moment where she did something - a screwing up of the face that I've seen the Queen do on a documentary some time. Just brilliant as she was plainly betting that was a family expression. Colin Firth - well he was very good but it wasn't hard to be very good in that part if you've played a lot of the characters that CF has. I would like Geoffrey Rush to get an oscar if anybody is.
I have read a lot about this period and this family and I think that affected my enjoyment though - I knew what was going to happen right down to the princesses and the nose bags. (How cute is that - they really did do that!) So it didn't ever surprise me - which is a shame for me but no reflection on the film.
I agree there are lots of great stories waiting to be told. I'm reading a great biography at the moment - Ella, Princess of Hess and the Rhine, older sister of Alix, the last Tsarina and gradaughter (of course) of Queen Victoria. Really a fascinating and tragic life and we hear so little about it. George VI's brother the Duke of Kent is another fascinating personality. Lived a WILD life in his twenties, married the hugely glamourous Marina and then killed in a rather odd wartime accident. Marina was left a widow with three tiny children - the youngest was 6 weeks old (Prince Michael). Now there's a good film there.....

CheerfulYank · 10/01/2011 17:06

I can't wait to see it, I'm so excited! :)

So really, I have nothing worthwhile to add, but I just wanted to express that.

PheasantPlucker · 10/01/2011 18:06

Saw it Friday, LOVED it.

Agree it is wonderful to see Anthony Andrews back on screen.

Colin Firth was fantastic.

JellyBelly10 · 10/01/2011 18:42

Can't wait to see it! My DS has a serious stammer (and years of speech therapy!) so I can imagine this film will have me in floods of tears as my DS's struggles have always made me feel so emotional! I must go and see it....

basildonbond · 10/01/2011 20:02

dh and I saw this last week and it just doesn't put a foot wrong - pretty much everything about it is perfect

I might nick someone else's idea and bet on the Oscars for the first time ever! (prob wouldn't get v good odds though ...)

BibiThree · 10/01/2011 20:43

Astounding film making. I felt every single emotion so acutely, it was pitch perfect at every turn.
I cannot recommend this film highly enough.

essenceofSES · 10/01/2011 21:15

I treated myself today on a rare day off (from work and DS-free!)
It was fantastic and all the praise on here is truly justified.

I'm sure there will be BAFTA nominations in abundance but I'm not sure about Oscar wins - this is very much a British made film I think and I'm not sure it is a film that will appeal quite so much to Americans. (I am more than happy to be proved wrong though!)

readinginbed · 10/01/2011 22:13

Yes a good film but really, I felt a bit prurient watching this man's struggles with something he so plainly wanted to keep private. Was like having a video camera into a therapy room. Ugh. There are better subjects for drama, this belongs on a documentary.

countless · 11/01/2011 00:49

just saw this tonight, absolutely brilliant. cor fancy colin firth all over again..went off him for a while in bridget jones..

i don't usually buy the pre awards hype but this really deserves to win well as just like the best films is exacty what a film should be a very good story and a mesmerising watch. only marred slightly by timothy spall's churchill

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