The Duchess Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

superb..........................

this dvd is superb. It stars Keira Knightley as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, Ralph Fiennes as William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, Hayley Atwell as Elizabeth Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire and Charlotte Rampling as Lady Spencer.

The film is set at the end of the eighteenth century, The Duchess is the story of the beautiful and, glamorous Georgiana Spencer, the most fascinating woman of the age.

While her beauty and charisma made her name, her extravagant tastes and appetite for gambling and love made her infamous.

Married young to the older, distant Duke of Devonshire, the confidant of ministers and princes, Georgiana became a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator and darling of the common people.

But at the core of her story is a desperate search for love.

From Georgiana’s passionate and doomed affair with Earl Grey to the complex ménage à trois with her husband and her best friend, Lady Bess Foster, The Duchess is a very contemporary tale of fame, notoriety and the search for love.

Well worth watching.

High on potential, low on delivery

Gorgiana was reckoned to be a witty and intelligent woman but sadly none of that comes across because the scriptwriters obviously weren't up to witty and intelligent dialogue. There must be a fascinating political story in the relationship between the Duchess and prime minister to be Mr Fox. However, that doesn't feature either, the politics are glossed over and the relationship presented in banal terms. Can't blame the actors, they do their best but there just isn't much here to work with. OK if you like costume drama but this is a poor example of the genre.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Loved it!

I absolutely loved 'The Duchess'. Keira Knightly was, as always, fantastic in this truly moving story. Beautiful scenery, costumes and actors make this well worth a watch.

Yawn, yawn

I wasn't expecting the film to be great but did think that it could be a couple of reasonably enjoyable hours. I was wrong. It took just 20 minutes for me to start calculating how much longer I had to stay. If I hadn't been with my mother I would have got up and left.

A truly dreadful film.

The husband was far too nice to her...

Very excited about seeing this version of the story of the Duchess of Devonshire as I'd seen a TV documentary about her and read a biography so was interested in seeing the life of a very colourful woman (and one clearly before her time) be brought to the big screen...but my anticipation quickly turned to disappointment - and then an increasing loss of the will to live.

This is not one of those movie experiences when you dont see the time going in - this is most definitely one of those times when you notice how uncomfortable the seat is and how slowly the ice melts in your coke and how much the pattern of breathing from the woman behind you is so annoying...because this, for the most, is like watching paint dry.

Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire was reputedly this colourful, rebellious, and scandalous young woman who made a celebrity of herself and enjoyed gambling and dabbling in the politics of the day. She resisted the constraints of contempory etiquette - and if not breaking them certainly railed against them...so how could this seemingly very interesting young woman's story be made SO boring? You dont have to look very far for the answer - Keira Knightley. The problem is that Keira Knightley is just incredibly insipid, lifeless, sullen and deary throughout these very long two hours. You dont get the feeling that this girl was remotely possible of enjoying life - and yet the character she is playing indulged in life to such a degree that we are still talking about her today.

The only positive element to this film is Ralph Fiennes who is somewhat entertaining as the duke - which at least raises a laugh from the audience on occasion. But again his role has it's problems because of Knightley's performance - instead of seeing Fiennes as representing the oppression of male supremacy it's very easy to see him as just an awkward & rather emotionally distant father simply trying to cope with a sombre and troublesome teenage daughter who just mopes around in self-pity. The Duke of Devonshire was a bit of a dull old stick who married a much younger girl and then spent a lot of years possibly regretting his decision but certainly trying to curtail her more free-spirited adventures - she was a bit more full of life than he had bargained for...but Keira gives us a girl who is totally devoid of life and so the result is that it is impossible to imagine that a girl like this would ever be remembered for anything...as for this film - the only thing it deserves to be remembered for are the costumes, which are simply stunning.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Fantastic

Went to see this expecting a light hearted bit of frivolity, but right form the start I found it totally captivating and the fact it was based on reality made it all the more heart wrenching! Keira plays this kind of role to perfection. Ralph Fiennes was also excellent.

All I can say without spoiling the story is Im so glad I wasnt born female in the 19 centuary!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Wife ordered it

without me knowing.did,nt watch it and did,nt want to and it mucked up my preferences.maybe should have watched keira for while though

[Highly rated reviewer]

As good a period drama as you could get

Though transparently sensationalised in parts for dramatic effect, the whole atmosphere, look and story are perfect, as good a period dress drama as I have seen, with uncanny resemblances to present day Spencer family fortunes, this is definately a worthwhile watch. Ralph Fiennes is simply superb as the cold unnaproachable Duke of Devonshire as is Kiera Knightly as his maligned dutchess Georgiana. Slightly risque in parts certainly for its age rating, nevertheless this is a an excellent film.

The Duchess

Terrible acting, worse plot. Nice costumes, though, and very instructive about 18th century underwear.

[Highly rated reviewer]

wow

well if you liked pride and pred you will certianly like her in this film.All i can say is she picks her main rolls well.It is from beginning to end a true shakesperean tradgedy.A long film which trys to portray alot in a short space of time.Mix a bit of love,lust,friendship,sadness and heartbreak and you just about have the film in one.Beautiful costumes with alot of detail involved the reflection of the times is second to none with fantastic settings all in all a magical film but can see it may not be for everyone.... If you love romance and can stand having your heart go out to a character then this is the film for you.....