"One minute to air" He steps up to the spot he most dreads. In front of all of this fears and insecurities which he must now face. All he's been working towards is on the line, all decided upon the next nine minutes. Another step forward and a bead of sweat drips down his face. "Forty seconds" The microphone is staring him down. There's no turning back now. The people - his people - are all waiting eagerly to hear their leader. Hear his ideas, hear his solution to their crisis, hear his voice he has acquired through grueling months of training. "Five, four, three, two...." the red light flashes, Beethoven's No. 7 Symphony Allegretto begins to play, he opens his mouth, and history is made.
If you haven't recognized it already, this is a description of the recent instant-classic of a movie: The King's Speech. I just was able to watch it for the first time tonight, and I really didn't know exactly what to expect from it, but it surely wasn't what I ended up getting. If there wasn't so much hype and excitement about this movie, I probably would have never seen it. Colin Firth as King George VI leading his country into World War II wasn't a huge draw for me. I had never even seen a trailer for this movie, so I honestly had no idea the film's focus would be upon the incredible struggle that this leader had to go through.
In case you haven't seen the movie, basic plot (no spoilers, don't worry): a prince of England with great bravery was always held back by his speech impediment. He couldn't speak without stammering between every few words. Under pressure, sometimes he couldn't even get out more than a couple of words all together. Since there is a possibility for him to become king, he tries to get professional help for his stammer. To watch how incredibly difficult it was for him to do something that comes naturally to most of us at any time of the day - I found - was difficult. I was almost moved to tears in the scene I described above.
If you're questioning whether this movie is worth the two hours of your life it will take to see this movie: do it. You will absolutely not regret it. A lot of the time, whenever a movie is made out to be this fantastic and artistically crafted film, I end up not understanding what's so great about it. The King's Speech does not fit this description. This is the kind of movie that moves me. I maintain the comparison of this movie to the film: Good Will Hunting (my favorite movie of all time). The same basic plot of a man with great talent held back by something they're forced to work through with the use of a professional who they eventually befriend. I think it's the immense feeling of accomplishment that the main characters feel at the end of these movies that is projected onto the viewer that makes these movies so great. To watch someone go through such a life-changing breakthrough. Watch this movie, if you haven't seen it...watch Good Will Hunting while you're at it as well. Neither will disappoint you. You will walk away with a mirrored feeling of accomplishment.
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