The Duchess
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 12/26/2008 Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Pg13
Swaddled in whalebone and wigs, Keira Knightley steps into the restricted world of the Duchess of Devonshire, a royal lady popular with her subjects but stuck in an unhappy marriage. If this situation recalls Princess Diana (a descendent of the Duchess's family), so much the better for the purposes of director Saul Dibb and company; this film is eager to draw parallels with the unfortunate Lady Di, even if she is never directly mentioned. Knightley's unsuspecting girl is married off to the Duke (Ralph Fiennes), a distracted jerk who craves sons, and obviously has never thought of women as anything other than a means to achieve an heir. When the Duchess launches her procreative career with a couple of daughters, well, the Duke begins to get nervous--and partners outside the marriage become increasingly appealing. The Duchess serves up lavish portions of Brit-movie staples: costumes (which, in Knightley's case, are nothing short of spectacular), landscapes, and gorgeous music (by Rachel Portman). If it falls short in some vague way, perhaps it's because the film is a mostly one-note affair, meaning exactly what it seems to mean at every moment. Charlotte Rampling appears too briefly as Knightley's mother, and Dominic Cooper and Hayley Atwell (from Brideshead Revisited), rising stars both, contribute attractive lures for the principals. They prove the old movie adage: there's a lot to be said for eye candy. --Robert Horton
Stills from The Duchess (Click for larger image)
The Duchess Accessories
The Duchess Reviews
Great scenes, good acting, lavish costumes, etc. In short nicely done period piece. But in the end, where was it headed? The film doesn't really say anything and anyone who has watched the BBC/PBS period piece productions of the last few yrs may find this film predictable.
While visually stunning, this movie was pretty much pointless. Real Georgiana was a more complex person than the one portrayed by Keira Knightley, and her life was never defined just by her desire for a happy marriage. She was influential, she had power and admiration, and in this movie the Duchess was reduced to a rich doormat. Georgina's real life story was significantly more exciting. This tepid my-husband-doesn't-love-me-and-doesn't-allow-me-to-have-a-lover version didn't do this notable woman any justice. No depth, no dimensions to the story. Moderately entertaining movie, but deserves not more than an OK rating. Rent it.
Georgiana Spencer became Duchess of Devonshire on her marriage to the Duke in 1774, at the height of the Georgian period, a period of fashion, decadence, and political change. Spirited and adored by the public at large she quickly found her marriage to be a disappointment, defined by her duty to produce a male heir and the Duke's philandering and callous indifference to her. She befriends Lady Bess but finds she is once again betrayed by her husband who wields his power with the three eventually living uncomfortably together. Against this background, and with the pressures of an unfaithful husband,strict social pressures and constant public scrutiny, Georgiana falls passionately in love with Charles Grey, a rising young Whig politician. However, despite his ongoing liaison with Lady Bess, the Duke refuses to allow her to continue the affair and threatens to take her children from her. This movie is a moving portrait of a very tragic figure, brought to life by a best performance from Keira Knightely. This movie exploration of unfortunate innocence and the loss of freedom is at times poignant and adds to what is an extremely satisfying experience. "The Duchess" is spellbinding.
Did not like this movie at all. It should have been rated R, then I would not have bought it.
I enjoyed the movie as a period drama, hence the 4 stars. HOWEVER...it is based upon Amanda Foreman's book but so much of Georgiana's character is missing. For example, her sister Harriet, to whom she was devoted, is never even seen much less refered to. I understand that major movies abridge portions of books, but so much is lost in this translation to the screen. This movie is good as an intro to Georgiana but for the real thing, read the book.
|
