The film's real power lies with Knightley. She easily could have gone over the emotional top, but instead gives a measured performance that increasingly draws you in.
Comment
10/03/08
The Duchess (2008)
61
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:158
Fresh:96
Rotten:62
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: While The Duchess treads the now-familiar terrain of the corset-ripper, the costumes look great and Keira Knightley's performance is stellar in this subtly feminist, period drama.
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Genre: Dramas
US Box Office: $13,823,741
Synopsis: After PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and ATONEMENT, Keira Knightley continues her reign as the queen of the period film with this 18th-century costume drama. The corset-clad actress stars as Georgiana... [More]
Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper
Director: Saul Dibb
Reviews for The Duchess
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; Australian critics are listed first)
Top CriticA mature, restrained portrayal from Knightley, a masterclass in passive aggression from Fiennes and a performance of tender seduction from Atwell.
10/03/08
Top CriticMouth watering scandal, a juicy love triangle and high powered men behaving badly make this a solid drama about character and society in 18th century England
09/28/08
Top CriticIntelligently written, superbly acted, beautiful to look at and happily free of anachronisms.
10/10/08
Top CriticIt seems Princess Diana was not the only royal whose marriage comprised three people. This cinematic and emotionally potent drama set in the 18th century and based on a true story, looks at a menage a trois that is filled with compelling elements
09/28/08
Top CriticKeira Knightley is really splendid...
10/03/08
Top CriticKnightley, whose glamorous reputation has outstripped her acting talents until now, is subjected to a barrage of close-ups, which could have been disastrous. Yet it isn't. In this one, she really comes of age.
10/10/08
Top CriticIt is easy to become immersed in the plight of these characters whose story is profoundly moving and satisfying.
09/26/08
Top CriticA handsome costume drama that highlights the relationship between the Cinderella outfits and the restrictive privilege of the society from whence they came.
10/03/08
Top CriticFocuses far too much on the cold accuracy of details than actually emotionally involving the audience in the story. Sumptuous but barren
09/29/08
Top CriticKnightley seems overly deliberate even in her mischief, and doesn't have Kirsten Dunst's talent for turning acting into a flirtatious game of charades.
10/03/08
Top CriticFor period drama fans there is enough high-powered bed-hopping and elegant corridor-stomping to keep them entertained.
09/05/08
Top CriticThere’s no let up in pace throughout the film and Keira is stunning. It takes someone very special to deliver the level of intimate exposure we get from her in this film. Be prepared to shed a tear or two, especially if you’re a mum!
09/05/08
Top CriticIt isn't just eye candy; there's an active intelligence behind this design.
09/26/08
a plaster cast of a movie. All the form of a cinematic event with none of the color, it turns a life that was fascinating into a film that is merely interesting
09/21/08
Can we not just enjoy what's on the screen without being spoon-fed a specious modern analogy? Dibb and his team – especial plaudits to Michael Carlin's production design and Michael O'Connor's costumes – have worked honourably to persuade us that we can.
09/05/08
There’s something really special about Kiera Knightly in these period pieces.
11/07/08
This is a wonderful film.
11/07/08
Knightley doesn't carry the film, which wouldn't work without Ralph Fiennes' perfectly calibrated performance.
09/26/08
The Duchess is clearly Knightley's movie, ultimately rising or falling on her performance. She's up to the task, capturing both the charm and grace that made Georgiana so captivating.
10/09/08
Latest News for The Duchess
January 07, 2009:
People's Choice Awards Winners Announced
The 35th annual People's Choice Awards were handed out on January 7, 2009. A complete list of film nominees, with winners in bold, follows below. More...
January 03, 2009:
Not just another royal goddess in a gilded cage costume drama, the film couldn't be more current now, when women bidding for the highest political offices are told to go home and take care of their kids or iron male shirts. Sexual subversion in corsets. 
More...
December 28, 2008:
Not just another royal goddess in a gilded cage costume drama, the film couldn't be more current now, when women bidding for the highest political offices are told to go home and take care of their kids or iron male shirts. Sexual subversion in corsets.
More...
October 12, 2008:
Emarketingmag.com: Not just another royal goddess in a gilded cage costume drama, the film couldn't be more current now, when women bidding for the highest political offices are told to go home and take care of their kids or iron male shirts.
More...
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