The Duchess - a Royal Disappointment
A Movie Review
Keira Knightley (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean), Ralph Fiennes (In Bruges, the Harry Potter series, The Constant Gardener), Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!), and Hayley Atwell ( Brideshead Revisited ) star in this dismal, tragic tale of a vibrant woman trapped in a loveless marriage at 17 to the wealthy and influential William Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes), the fifth Duke of Devonshire, a man who cares more about his dogs and his lineage than his wife. His disgust with her grows as she bears two daughters, and to further complicate matters and insult his wife, he takes a mistress into his house, into his household, and into his social life. The Duchess of Devonshire and "Empress of Fashion" eventually must face an agonizing choice between responsibility and love.
The movie is based upon the true story of young Georgiana Spencer, direct ancestor to Princess Diana, who marries into power and becomes a fashion icon in her day. While the movie hints at her role in politics and press blurbs calls Georgiana "a devoted mother, a voice for the common man," the movie dwells much more on such unsavory aspects as the scandals: her affair with Charles Grey, her brutal rape by her husband, his affairs, and even deviates into a brief quasi-lesbian scene. This "devoted mother" leaves her children to have an affair, and according to the movie, almost doesn't return to the them. The "devoted mother" is also forced into giving up the illegitimate child she bore Grey. As Duchess of Devonshire, she reportedly becomes one of the most impassioned political voices in all of 18th century Britain, but this interesting point is sort of lost in all the titillating scandals that are bound to sell more tickets and DVDs than the "voice for the common man" ever could.
The acting is at times superb, and the gowns and scenery are sumptuous eye candy, but the movie has few redeeming plot lines. This is definitely not a movie for teens or children, or for people who want to feel good after seeing a movie. It is a depressing tale of the way even noble women were often treated in Great Britain by their husbands during the day as their role at the time was that of a brood mare, as well as prized possession, if they were lucky. The lack of morals in a society that claimed to be Christian was appalling. I felt like I needed a bath and a steaming mug of hot coco to lift me out of the funk I felt after viewing The Duchess. History buffs might enjoy the movie if it follows the story of Georgiana Spencer relatively closely.
One interesting note is that Keira Knightley refused to allow any enhancement of her cleavage on publicity photos for the role, according to Britain's Daily Mail reports. Studio heads apparently wanted to enlarge Knightley's bosom in the photos, but the 23-year-old actress declined.
The Duchess DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English, French and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. Total run time is 109 minutes. The Duchess on Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition English 5.1 Dolby True HD with French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Total runtime is 109 minutes. Bonus features on the DVD and Hi-Def features on Blu-ray include:
• How Far She Went...Making the Duchess - A fascinating documentary featurette explores the life of Georgiana Spencer Cavendish and the era that she came to define.
• Georgiana In Her Own Words - Amanda Foreman, author of the award-winning biography Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and producer Gabrielle Tana hold a roundtable discussion at the archive of Chatsworth House-home of Georgiana and her family-reviewing letters, diary entries and artifacts that helped shape the historical landscape of Foreman's biography, the inspiration for The Duchess.
• Costume Diary - A darling of high society and a fashion trendsetter, the Duchess was well known for her extravagant wardrobe. Costume designer Michael O'Connor talks about creating the outlandish and beautiful costumes that would become some of the film's most flamboyant characters.
THE DUCHESS
Street date: December 28, 2008
DVD Pricing: $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canada
Blu-ray Pricing: $29.99 U.S./$36.99 Canada
Blu-ray Catalog #: 140074
Runtime: 109 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity and thematic material
If you enjoyed this review, you might also enjoy these:
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (original) Special Edition Releases
Movie Wars! "Blood Diamond" Vs. "The New World"
"Eagle Eye" Releases on DVD and Blu-Ray - a Review
"The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" Special Edition Review
Horton Hears a Who Releases on DVD - a Movie Review
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Collector's Edition DVD - Review
Disney Shuts the Book on Chronicles of Narnia, Will Not Produce Dawn Treader
Twilight at Midnight - a Movie Review
"Sex and the City" for Teens: "The Secret Life of the American Teenager Season One" Review
Published by Kathryn E. Darden
An author, poet, publisher, publicist & skincare consultant, I have written for publications including CCM Magazine, The Tennessean, Barbie Bazaar Magazine, Christian Activities & several local newspapers.... View profile
- Blu-ray Vs. HD-DVD: The Battle Wears OnThe Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD debate has taken a new turn. With Warner Bros. firmly in the Blu-ray camp, Blu-ray is looking more likely to be the victor in this contest.
- Brideshead Revisited on DVD - Movie ReviewBrideshead Revisited, based on Evelyn Waugh's novel by the same name, is a story of love, power, and desire in patrician England during the 1920's and into the 1940s.
- Chaucer's "The Book of the Duchess"An analysis of Chaucer's "Book of the Duchess"
- Learn How to Steal a King's Heart from the Duchess of WindsorKing Edward VIII of England abdicated his throne to marry "the woman he loved" in one of the greatest love stories of all time. Learn from the Duchess. If you can master the art of stealing a king's heart, getting you...
- Rebellion, Identity, and the Panopticon in The Duchess of MalfiA look at the play, "The Duchess of Malfi" through the lens of Foucault's Panopticon.
- The Duchess A Review
- Disney Unveils Blu-ray & DVD Combo Packs
- The Duchess
- Film Review: The Duchess
- "British Aristocracy is Dead" Says Duke of Devonshire
- Marley and Me Releases on DVD and Blu-Ray - Movie Review
- Why DVD is Better Than Blu Ray
- Stars Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, and Hayley Atwell
- Keira Knightley refused to allow any enhancement of her cleavage on publicity photos
10 Comments
Post a CommentHa! :-) I knew what you meant! Thanks!
The movie, I mean...NOT your article, so well-written :)
I'll be sure to avoid this one.
You have an excellent talent writing movie reviews. I appreciate the head-up on the downer this movie dumps on viewers; not something I'd want to pay to feel.
wow sounds depressing.
Excellent review!
An excellent review... well done!! It does sound interesting from an historical view... but after falling asleep to "The Queen", I fear this one might do the same for me lol Excellent review nonetheless :)
A good movie would have drawn audiences by making the store irresistible rather than unbelievable.
YEAH! I'm not alone! I have not and will not watch Titanic.
Thanks for the honest review, I really appreciate it!
Thanks for the warning. Sometimes movies and the liberties they take with history just drive me to distraction. (A reason I will never, ever watch Titanic) It makes me sad that history gets distorted when we could learn from a well done movie. I'll read about it instead. ;) Thanks!