Costume period dramas are a constant bore so why should I spend my time unclothing this one literally style. Because "The Duchess" is a pretty good one I must say your highnesses. Keira Knightley stars as Georgiana, the Duchess of the Duke of Devonsh... (read more) Costume period dramas are a constant bore so why should I spend my time unclothing this one literally style. Because "The Duchess" is a pretty good one I must say your highnesses. Keira Knightley stars as Georgiana, the Duchess of the Duke of Devonshire in the 18th Century. However, this Duke and Duchess are not the happy aristocratic couple as they do tend to verbally duke it out from time to time. In fact, they are both opposite ends of the spectrum. Georgiana is charismatic, humorous, and enchanting; while the Duke is lifeless, demanding, and egotistical. His only concern with the Duchess is for her to labor a son to be his heir. When the Duchess can only deliver junior duchesses and no mini-Dukes, the Duke chaos follows. Not to mention, the Duchess longs for a charming politician named Charles Grey, but the Duke makes it very difficult for the Duchess to fall into The Grey Zone. Director Saul Dibb does not dibble dabble too much with the same ol' period piece plot. Dibb does a stellar job in characterizing the protagonists so the focus is not primarily focused on the usual elaborate art direction and whopping costumes of most period pieces. Not to say Dibb did not have some help in accomplishing this by hatching out handsomely to Screenwriter Jeffery Hatcher appealing script of the film. Knightley's commanding performance as Georgiana was of extraordinaire reign. Keira is quickly becoming the acting queen of the period piece genre. Ralph Fiennes was pitch perfect as El Duque. And there were some nice thespian supporting touches by Charlotte Rampling as Georgiana's selfish mother Lady Spencer (for hire to have her daughter marry the Duke), and Dominic Cooper as the aforementioned Charles "Not in Charge" Grey. So my concluding exclamation is that "The Duchess" is one surprising period film that makes its mark!
**** Good

I really enjoyed this period piece and I believe that Keira Knightley has found her niche. The story was wonderful and terrible at the same time. I wanted more of a happier ending, but you can't change history.

Could have been 100% better had it been a miniseries that allowed for more character development.

It was really, really sad...I can't believe the duke was such a mean dude...Kiera's acting was really good and the film was awesome despite the true story sadness.

Vaik Keira onkii kaamee ni oli ihana elokuvanen, historiaa, draamaa ja pukuja<3

awesome costumes but poor plot...
however, this movie did led me into thinking the relationship between women and family - is home a comfort zone for female, or just a societal prison built by men? i think there must be a balance between these two e... (read more) awesome costumes but poor plot...
however, this movie did led me into thinking the relationship between women and family - is home a comfort zone for female, or just a societal prison built by men? i think there must be a balance between these two extremes, or women will never get the true liberty they've been demanding for centuries.

Fabulous period film about the life of the Duchess of Devonshire. Whoever said that being rich and beautiful was enough should watch this film.

Princess Di deserves livelier revisionism.

Knightley is up to the task. Her Georgiana is history with a human face.

It's Knightley who makes The Duchess a royal treat.

Knightley's wig gets bigger and bigger as the character grows more unhappy, until finally it catches fire — leading to the potentially immortal line, "Please put out Her Grace's hair."

Knightley's wig gets bigger and bigger as the character grows more unhappy, until finally it catches fire — leading to the potentially immortal line, "Please put out Her Grace's hair."