Preview: The King's Speech (2010)

Synopsis:

When his brother abdicates the throne, King George the VI must overcome his stammering problem to become a vocal and effective leader.

• Poster: C; C-

Review:

A rather muted poster designed to attract audiences who might be familiar with one of the three actors on the screen. And since Colin Firth can be seen in Love Actually, Helena Bonham Carter will be familiar to fans of Tim Burton and Geoffrey Rush had a successful career in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, it might work; however, the design is so rudimentary and unspectacular that it doesn't speak well to the film's subject and fades to the background against more conventional and cluttered affairs.

Trying to be a bit more stylish than the first poster still results in a failure for the producers of The King's Speech. The only thing this poster is good for is symbolizing what people who are familiar with the film's plot already know: the title has a double meaning about his actual speech and about a speech he has to give. And that's about it. Not worth much, really.

• Trailer: B-

Review:

It's a fairly rudimentary trailer that plays exactly as one would expect, but it's not the kind of biopic that audiences just line up for, at least not with this kind of campaign.

Oscar Prospects:

Doing an accent with a speech impediment should put Colin Firth into the lead for Best Actor this year, but the film and its other major actors (Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter) will also be in heavy competition.

Release Date:

• November 26, 2010

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (September 23, 2010) Original

-Wesley Lovell (November 3, 2010) New Poster

-Wesley Lovell (December 3, 2010) New Poster