Opening on November 26 is one of the best films of the year and something that's absolutely getting nominated for every major award: director Tom Hooper's The King's Speech.  I caught a screening at the Toronto Film Festival and was floored by how much I loved it.  In fact, after the Festival ended, only two films stayed with me: The King's Speech and Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.

If you never saw the trailer for The King's Speech, the film is based on the true story of King George VI (Colin Firth) and how he overcame a debilitating speech impediment with the help of an eccentric speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush).   The film also stars Helena Bonham Carter as Firth's wife, and Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon.

While I've seen a lot of great performances this year, Firth, Rush and Bonham Carter are all at the top of their game and all three are getting nominations.  They're that good.  For a taste of the movie, the Weinstein Company has provided us with 4 clips.  Hit the jump to watch:

And one last thing before the clips.  One of the many reasons why The King's Speech is so great is director Tom Hooper.  Often when I watch a period piece, I'm left thinking that I just watched a Lifetime movie, or something that could have been on HBO on a Saturday night.  But Hooper has elevated what could have been a simple story to something that absolutely belongs on movie screens.

Of course having incredible performances from Firth and Rush help elevate the material, but his use of selective close-ups and interesting camera angles made the story came to life.  Again, The King's Speech is one of the best films I've seen this year and it's absolutely worth checking out.  Here's the clips:

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Here's the official synopsis:

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of Prince Edward VII's (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).  After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle.  Based on the true story of King George VI, THE KING'S SPEECH follows the Royal Monarch's quest to find his voice.

Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon

Directed by: Tom Hooper

Written by: David Seidler

In Theaters November 26, 2010