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Monarch Stutter Fly

As Jerry Seinfeld wisely pointed out: people are more afraid of public speaking than of death, so at a funeral most folks would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. If that's the case, imagine the sadness of King George VI, whose stutter made him virtually paralyzed when presented with a microphone. The radio - or "wireless" as it was called before that word took on a 21st century meaning - was a new medium. As George V lamented, it used to be enough for a king to look good in uniform, now he is akin to that basest of creatures: the actor.

If the thought of watching a film about how the Duke of York overcame his vocal impediment and gave one of the pivotal speeches of World War II already has you clicking the "close" button, then "The King's Speech" may not be for you. If, however, you give the film a try, director Tom Hooper's masterfully crafted biopic may grab you. Mr. Hooper is no stranger to period biopics - he directed a majority of the equally-superlative "John Adams" mini-series.

The cast is uniformly in top form, and much of it plays like a "Harry Potter" reunion. Timothy Spall is on hand to ham up the role of Winston Churchill, and Michael Gambon lends his gravitas to the small but crucial role of George V. Helena Bonham Carter, freed from the shackles of her recent obsession with fright-wigs, is nearly a revelation here as the future Queen Elizabeth. The actress has always been a joy playing proper English ladies, and here - playing the ultimate proper English lady - she reminds us of why we loved her in the first place.

But "The King's Speech" is really a buddy film. It's about the relationship between the Duke and his unconventional speech coach, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). As Logue, Mr. Rush has rarely been better - and that's really saying something. Logue is a study in subtle expressions and dry, exquisitely timed wit. As the Duke himself, Colin Firth gives the performance of his career. It's great to see him outside the love stories with which he has typically been saddled ("Bridget Jones", "Love Actually"). Scenes between the Duke and Logue are basically just two guys talking. But with actors like these, those sequences are better than any I've seen this year.

Public speaking is a common fear, but imagine someone who not only must speak, but must speak to an entire nation - during wartime. The story almost seems too perfectly tailored for the screen and indeed a few moments are clearly massaged by the screenwriter, David Seidler. But these are deftly handled and easily forgiven. Mr. Firth's Duke carries the weight of the impending throne through his entire body - his walk, his shoulders, and eventually his voice - or lack thereof. The oppression of his life and station is palpable. His every attempt at public speaking is heartbreaking. Come Oscar season, Mr. Firth's performance is the one to beat. And if there's any justice, he will be called upon to give another speech very soon.