By Peter Covino

Entertainment Editor

Time to pile on the accolades.

The King’s Speech is definitely the best-acted film of 2010, if not the best picture.

In the past week, the captivating film led all films with seven Golden Globe nominations, while also capturing virtually every acting category nomination by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

And I certainly won’t be bucking that trend.

It has been a pretty decent year for quality films, and The King’s Speech is certainly at or near the top of the list.

Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are both amazing as King George VI and his speech therapist, respectively. Both men received Golden Globe nominations for their performances, as well as the more prestigious, from an actor’s standpoint, nominations from the guild.

And it is a testament to director Tom Hooper’s expertise that he could make this oh-so-British monarchy drama a treat to watch even for the casual American observer. He also received a directing nomination from Hollywood Foreign Press globes.

Most Brits probably know all about this fascinating time in British history: George (he is actually Albert before taking the George title) was just the younger brother to Edward, and Edward was the king of England for a brief time in the 1930s.

It is good to be prince, maybe even better than king. You get the royal treatment, but are able to stay out of the limelight.

King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) barely had time to polish his crown, when he decided to give up his monarchy in a scandalous abdication of the throne in 1936. (He was in love with, and subsequently married American divorcee Wallis Simpson).

But Albert soon-to-be George was a reluctant monarch. The Royal family has another secret besides Edward’s frequent womanizing. Albert had a severe speech impediment.

And kings do make speeches. Making matters worse, radio had grown in importance, and the king was expected to make frequent radio addresses.

It is against that backdrop that The King’s Speech unfolds.

Don’t let all this royalty stand of the way of you thinking The King’s Speech is not a fun time at the movies. It most certainly is. You will laugh on cue when you see, that despite a social standing that is highly superior to the rest of us mere mortals, the royals are subject to the same miscues as the average guy.

And if you thought Elizabeth II has been queen since the time of Moses, you will enjoy seeing a very young Elizabeth and baby sister Margaret. Helena Bonham Carter also shows off her acting skills playing his wife Elizabeth.

The King’s Speech has an R rating, and that is hardly justified unless you have a severe hang-up over language.

Critic's rating: A-