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David O'Connell
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The Duchess
October 29th 2008 20:37
Written by CherylJ
I have to say it was with some trepidation that I went to see this film. I am neither a fan of Keira Knightley, nor period drama, so I was pleasantly surprised that I quite enjoyed the movie.
The Duchess is based on the story of Georgiana Spencer, a 16 year old aristocrat and her marriage to William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire. The marriage is a seemingly perfect union, but an incredibly unhappy one.
Many comparisons have been made to Georgiana’s story and that of Princess Diana who was a descendent in the Spencer family line. Although the stories bear some resemblance in as much as they both involve women who were publicly adored and involved in unhappy marriages, the writers seem to have attempted to make you think more of the connection than there actually was.
Georgiana was a bit of an ‘It’ girl. She was very much a fashion plate and trendsetter and if she wore something one day, it would usually be highly copied by the next. She also drank and gambled with the best of them and had strong and outspoken political views, even throwing her considerable ‘celebrity’ status behind the ‘Whig Party’ and in particular the young Charles Grey who went on to become Prime Minister. Much of the story revolves around the love quadrangle of Georgiana, her love for Charles Grey and her husband and his very well known affair with Lady Elizabeth Foster, Georgiana’s best friend.
Georgiana was forced to endure a marriage to a man that held no love for her and to tolerate the pain and humiliation of having to live in a household along with her husband’s mistress or lose her children. Her sole purpose as Duchess was to provide a male heir. She had many miscarriages, stillbirths and two daughters before finally giving the Duke his beloved male heir.
Although I usually find Knightley’s pouting particularly annoying, it did fit perfectly with the role but her incredibly slender frame was very distracting and would have reflected extreme poverty at the time the movie was set. With all of the usual things I find irritating about her - the pouting, the big doe eyed expressions - in this movie they were used to great effect and Knightley managed to draw much sympathy for her plight.
Ralph Fiennes was superb as the incredibly humourless, fumbling, socially inept Duke conveying much more with what he didn’t say rather than what he did. It shows the real measure of an actor who has very little in the way of actual dialogue, but can command so much of the screen.
Although at times you felt the Duke to be a rather diabolical character, I felt the film managed to show that although he kept his wife a virtual prisoner and, at times, treated her appallingly, he did not seem to take any pleasure from doing so. He was as much trapped by the duty and expectation of the times as his wife, a woman in an era where women basically had no rights whatsoever.
Hayley Atwell who plays Lady Elizabeth (Bess) is an incredibly likeable and sympathetic character whom it’s impossible to dislike even though it seems she has betrayed her best friend in the most unthinkable way. She, too, was trapped by circumstance and her great love for Georgiana shone through.
All in all, The Duchess is not a masterpiece and had some exasperating plot holes. Some things were glossed over or left out entirely which would have given her story far more impact. Nevertheless, it was nice way to while away 110 minutes. A reasonably well told story that will tug at your heartstrings and make you very happy that the times have changed. I would rate this very much as a chick flick.
Rated: M
Starring: Keira Knightley
Ralph Fiennes
Charlotte Rampling
Directed by: Saul Dibb
Runtime: 110 mins
*this image is from Lights, Camera, History!
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Comment by David O'Connell
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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and what have you done with Cibbuano????
i imagine him bound and gagged in the corner as you type away on his site!
knowing your dislike for girlie films i think this is an overwhelmingly good review from you!
Comment by Anonymous
Why don't you link your review to the discussion going on elsewhere about Internet censorship?- with specific reference to Anorexia. If ever an actress looked anorexic it is Keira Knightly. I don't think she has too much of a pout when in her natural state - only when digitally enhanced to look like she's had botox or whatever it is that they use.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Morgan, I brought Cheryl on board to help me cover more films, especially ones that I'm not the best audience for...
Anon, which discussion?
Comment by David O'Connell
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Sorry about that Cheryl, I somehow missed the all-important byline, and thought it was just Cib was channeling his feminine side!!
Comment by Mister Smith
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READ THIS
SISTERS IN CRIME
Comment by Cheryl J
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Hi David, I am really Cib's alter ego. Didn't you know he dresses up as a short woman and struts his stuff around Sydney?!
The weird pouty mouth actually works for her in this film. I normally find it very distracting as well but it really works for her in this. That said, I stand by my statement that this is very much a chick flick.
Hi Morgan, Cib's actually locked in my basement so I can steal his readership. Is it working? You're right, a good review from me on a girlie flick is a bit of a rarity so it obviously had many redeeming features for me to not drop off with boredom. I found it quite touching and I found Ralph Fiennes quite mesmerising..
Hi Cib, thanks once again for inviting me to participate on your site. I'm quite enjoying pretending to be you!
Hi Mr Smith,
I just had a peek at the six degrees post. Lady Dave is a funny bugger all right. Did you want the link because of the six degrees to Princess Diana or the six degrees to Keira's ribcage? Both are far too obvious in this movie.
Comment by Cheryl J
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Comment by Cheryl J
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Comment by Janet Collins
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Good first movie review Cheryl. It's now Cheryl and Cibby taking on Margaret and David. What a good idea!
Janet
Comment by Cheryl J
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I'm a chronic insomniac so it probably helps
Thanks for the comment and the compliment. Yay, I love Margaret and David, she is always so cheeky and he's always so serious. I'm looking forward to having lots of fun.
Comment by alt_ed
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I for one really like Keira Knightley, and it all stems from her role in 'Bend it like Beckham' but I thought she was equally as adorable in 'Love Actually' too.
Morgan will probably just say I like her cos she's stick thin, and who knows, that's probably got a bit to do with it hehe-- Why do you think I like you so much Cheryl
Its not all Gravy though-- I hate period drama!!!
Comment by Cheryl J
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Yes period drama, it's all a little like PMS
Comment by ShaunK
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Comment by Cheryl J
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She does seem to fit into that category, she has done quite a number of those roles.