Best Movie for Grownups 2011: The King's Speech

We meet the king of England's second son (Colin Firth) in the 1930s, when he reluctantly visits a no-nonsense speech therapist (an astonishing Geoffrey Rush) for treatment of a per ­ sistent stammer. The task turns epic when the prince, thrust onto the throne, must address his nation as it goes to war — and overcome not only his speech disability but also the terrible secrets that triggered it.

Seldom in film have the currents of history and the eddies of human frailty been so gingerly interwoven.

We Also Loved: See our editors' complete list of the 10 best movies of the year on our Movies for Grownups Awards page.