X
- 2008
- PG-13
- Paramount Vantage
- 1 h 50 m
- 2008
- PG-13
- Paramount Vantage
- 1 h 50 m
Summary Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, was the original “It Girl.” Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of t...
Directed By: Saul Dibb
- 2008
- PG-13
- Paramount Vantage
- 1 h 50 m
- 2008
- PG-13
- Paramount Vantage
- 1 h 50 m
The Duchess
62
6.7
Where to Watch
Summary Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, was the original “It Girl.” Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of t...
Directed By: Saul Dibb
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
62
65% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
32% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
62
65% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
32% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
This is not one of those delightful movies based on a Jane Austen novel. It is about hard realists, constrained in a stifling system and using whatever weapons they can command.
If you're fond of wigs, you may be in heaven. If you're more interested in Whigs, you may wish the movie had dug deeper under the lovely powdered surface of Lady Georgiana Spencer.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 43 User Ratings
6.7
60% Positive
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
33% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
7% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 43 User Ratings
6.7
60% Positive
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
33% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
7% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Fine performances from all of the leads, and the locations are exquisite. The story of the abuse of the Duchess of Devonshire by her despicable husband will make you feel sad, but it's an excellent movie.
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The Duchess isn't just another twee, good-looking period drama. The film hinges on a very strong central performance from Keira Knightley as the titular Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana. Ralph Fiennes also impresses as the rather despicable Duke of Devonshire, as does Hayley Attwell as Lady Elizabeth Foster, the Duke's mistress, and Charlotte Rampling as the dutiful mother of Georgiana. The only real weak link in the casting is Dominic Cooper, whose up-and-coming politician Charles Grey comes across as a little wooden and whiny (a pity considering the importance of his character to the story). The film wisely doesn't try to put a modern spin on late 18th century views - it acknowledges and explores the difficulty of being a high-ranking noble woman during this period, and you really feel for Georgiana and the various struggles she went through. The script is well-polished and provides some meaty themes and well-written dialogue for the cast to get their teeth into. The whole film looks great, with the cinematography making the very most of the elaborate period costumes, stately homes and the English countryside, but of particular note are the scenes where Georgiana and Duke William sit at opposite ends of a long table in a plain, lifeless dining room - a great visual metaphor for the distance between them in their relationship. The Duchess is far better than the average period drama. It's surprisingly dark, emotionally complex, beautifully filmed and well-performed (particularly by Knightley and Fiennes). You're utterly absorbed by the historical setting, and able to really feel for what late-18th century women had to go through, particularly those in the public eye, who were obliged to provide their powerful husbands with an heir to remain in favour. It was a cruel and unfulfilling life, and The Duchess presents it to us as it was, and makes no attempt to sugar-coat what we witness to make it any more palatable. This makes the film an extremely refreshing change to the vast majority of cheery, emotionally shallow historical dramas (that more closely resemble elaborate soap opera), and aside from an underwhelming performance from Dominic Cooper and a slightly too gruelling run-time, a hugely rewarding viewing experience.
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It's Knightley who makes The Duchess a royal treat.
Provided you don't take it seriously, it makes for an addictively entertaining diversion that's as hard to stop watching as the books are to stop reading.
It's too bad there's not more substance to The Duchess, because there's lots of acting and, as is required of a Brit-styled period piece, lushness galore.
It has impeccable production values but feels like a "Masterpiece Theater" production of a Harlequin romance novel.
Everything is predictable three scenes in advance, and it's all stale, stuck, stolid.
The Duchess can be a bit slow, but it is a very focused film featuring a stellar performance from Keira Knightley that is a feast for the eyes. With breathtaking costume design, production design, makeup, and hairstyling, The Duchess is a visual delight. Beyond this, it is a very solidly crafted film with a tight plot that remains focused on the joy, pain, anguish of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. In this role, Knightley is a real highlight reel with a terrifically nuanced performance that really captures the essence of England's "it girl" of the late 1700s. She really radiates charisma in this film and attracts the eyes, as is appropriate. Ralph Fiennes also turns in a good performance here as her manipulative and cruel husband. Overall, The Duchess hits the breaks more than it should, but does a fantastic job crafting a portrait of this beloved figure.
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Keira Knightley entre deux pubs Chanel trouve tout de même le temps de faire l'actrice dans des films soit neuneus du siècle dernier, soit gnangnans du siècle précédent... quand ce n'est pas pour servir la soupe à Johnny (ah que...? non pas notre "Johnny", l'autre !) dans les pantalonnades hollywoodiennes à costumes pour débiles.
Je ne trouve pas qu'il s'agisse d'une actrice extraordinaire, loin de là, mais paradoxalement sa présence, son charme sont d'un magnétisme extravagant sans qu'elle donne jamais l'impression de jouer la vampe ou d'en faire des tonnes, bien au contraire.
Ainsi, c'est principalement pour Keira que l'on se tape "La Duchesse", film d'un intérêt limité et plutôt ennuyeux mais qui me semble véhiculer (à très juste titre d'ailleurs) un message sur la condition des femmes en Angleterre à l'ère pré-napoléonienne, à savoir des pondeuses au service de Monsieur le Duc, dociles soumises et sans rébellion (ah, surtout pas de rébellion bordel de merde !).
Le film y réussit assez bien grâce à Keira bien sûr mais aussi grâce à un Ralph Fiennes aussi macho que maladroit et rustre, très fidèle à l'air du temps. Pas vraiment fémininiste, le film illustre l'abdication de la femme devant la volonté de son mari malgré ses tentatives de mini-révolte ou d'insoumission voire de libertinage. Ou serait-ce un féminisme larvé et rampant ? ou une démonstration du machisme patriarcal ? se demande-t-on pendant que Keira nous pond du chiard à la chaîne. Et à la demande.
La pauvre ! enfin le film se termine. Putain j'ai cru que ça finirait jamais. Vas-tu finir, oui, maudit film de rosbifs ?! le charme de Keira ne fait plus effet !
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Production Company
Paramount Vantage,
Pathé,
BBC Film,
Renn Productions,
BIM Distribuzione,
Qwerty Films,
Magnolia Mae Films
Release Date Sep 19, 2008
Duration 1 h 50 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline There were three people in her marriage
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
British Independent Film Awards
• 4 Nominations
