Without spoiling the movie The King’s Speech directed by Tom Hooper is the true story (with some liberties taken as with any “true story”) of King George VI the King of England during the rise of fascism and the outbreak of World War II in the 1930’s and his overcoming of his debilitating speech impediment.

Colin Firth (A Christmas Carol, Mamma Mia!) plays a very believable prince and later king and portrays the debilitating speech impediment and the emotions that are tacked on with his disability rather well, and performances of a strong lead with a mental or any form of disability is always Oscar bait, just look at examples like Russell Crowe’s A Beautiful Mind or Tom Hank’s Forrest Gump.

The primary premise of the movie is the King’s overcoming of his disability to finally be able to give an eloquent speech to his subjects across the realm of England. After being to every prestigious speech therapist and doctor in all of England, the King’s wife Elizabeth, played by Helena Carter of Fight Clubfame, takes an unorthodox approach to curing her husband but taking him to Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush of Pirates of the Caribbeanfame, who learned to cure speech impediments through helping shell-shocked troops returning from World War I.

The premise of the movie initially seems as though it would lead to a slow movie that suffers from over explanations and needless information or scenes but the movie flows rather well. The final climatic scene of the movie is powerful and makes you feel for the world during a time of intense turmoil.

That isn’t to say the movie doesn’t have its frustrating aspects, Firth does almost togood of a job playing the King with a speech impediment and dialogue at some points in the movie becomes frustrating just waiting to get through the next sentence. The only note worthy performances come from the two main characters (Lionel and King George) the supporting cast feels weak and even Elizabeth who should be a rock for the King feels like nothing more then an object to fill up the frame.

The King’s Speech is up for several Oscars including Best picture, does it deserve such an award?

The short answer is, no, when stacked up against movies like the innovative Inception and the dark but artistic Black Swan Speech just doesn’t stack up.

Speech is a solid film that is worth seeing, it is an interesting perspective on an incredibly important and turmoil filled part of history without using a war movie is impressive and very interesting but it isn’t a film I would recommend for Best Picture but is a film I would recommend to anyone interested a solid film that isn’t just a mindless flick that won’t make you think.

Overall I would give the film 3 out of 4 stars, a movie worth seeing or renting but not an Oscar Winner by any means.