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Written September 19, 2008
LOTS OF FLASH OVER MODERATE SUBSTANCE. GRADE: B-MINUS

by MOVIES REVIEWER

Last night, I attended the advance press screening of this sumptuous movie-adaptation of Amanda Foreman's biographical novel of the charismatic Duchess of Devonshire, Lady Georgiana Spencer Cavendish(an ancestress of the late Princess Diana).

The costumes and sets were gorgeous painstakingly handsomely lush detailed.
The wigs - especially - will blow you over.
All-in-all, the above were visually dazzling!
The superb Oscar-worthy acting was delivered by Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling. Kudos to the rest of the cast.

However, the story/plot suffered from the distraction of a love-triangle(quadrangle?) - and gave us few/little insights as to why her Ladyship was a distinguished influential aristocrat of her time. This is supposed to be a historical drama! The movie did fleetingly touch on politics, sexism/feminism, and importance of family and friendship.

Verdict:
If you are a fan of period dramas and love stories, this movie will enthrall you.
- 19 out of 23 found this review helpful.
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Oh No!
Written October 13, 2008
Pathetic!

by rlreeve

What a missed opportunity to tell the story of an intriguing and powerful woman! Instead of a balanced, well-rounded interesting picture, all we get is 2 hours of Ms. Knightly's collagen lips and vacant eyes. She represents the Duchess of Devonshire as a skinny, whiny victim, which she most certainly was not. She was a consummate politician of her age who moved in the highest circles of British government, as well as an intimate friend of the Prince of Wales and Prime Ministers. She also had feet of clay in the form of an addiction to gambling and the consequent crippling debts. None of this was in the pathetic movie. And there is no evidence her hair was ever on fire -- why was it deemed necessary to add this silly device (among others)? Don't waste your money if you like quality films!
- 9 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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Written October 15, 2008
The Dutchess

by luvagoodshow

This was a very interesting movie. The British countryside was beautiful, the costumes spectacular and the acting superb. It was, however, sad to see the many similarities between the lives of the Dutchess of Devonshire and the Princess of Wales. Both women were so very unhappy in the lives they were forced to live. One would hope that times would have improved.

I saw this film on a "Ladies Day Out" and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't know if our husbands would have enjoyed it as much as we did. If you enjoy period films, and are interested in all things royal, you will enjoy this film.
- 8 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written October 13, 2008
Loved It

by entertainme654654

From my research, this is Princess Diana's great, great, great, great aunt (g, g, g grandfather John Spencer's sister). Very ironic the similarities of Georgiana and Diana (except for one thing compared to Diana but I don't want to give it away). Movie is almost to fact, except her lover is around 10 years younger than she (look up prime minister of England 1830) so when she was 17 he was 7 so he would not have been a teenage friend?!!!See movie first, then do research on the family tree, it is from Duchess G that Sarah Ferguson's family line came from, which is VERY interesting.Movie starts at Althorpe (Spencer home) then other places in England.If you are taking your children, the nudity scene is a brief 5 seconds (which this implicates what we suspect, we may have questioned what happened if was clothing on) and then one other scene is someone being "forced upon", which dress does remain on (I don't want to tell you which character it happens to). I will be buying the DVD.
- 9 out of 14 found this review helpful.
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Written September 29, 2008
The Dutchess

by avnyc

Very good cinematography. The acting was good overall
- 9 out of 14 found this review helpful.
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Written September 28, 2008
Wins by a chin

by mattblack

Actually liked The Duchess more than I thought I would. I like a costume drama but wasn't expecting to like Keira Knightly with her jutting chin and flailing arms but she actually pulled it off with some grace and genuine emotion under all those wigs. Ralph Fiennes was particularly good as the uptight Duke. Hard to beat the beautiful locations as well. I did feel they could have cut a bit out of it, there were moments when it lagged.
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written October 4, 2008
Great performances but relentlessly depressing.

by zuz211

Good: Kiera Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, along with the supporting actors, give excellent performances. Also, from what I know of the period, the film was pretty accurate. I loved that, for example, Georgiana was initially happy to learn of her engagement to the duke, unlike the cliched stories where women anachronistically protest against arranged marriages. Also, the costumes were gorgeous.

So/so: I know it's based on a true story, but the film is just one horrible thing after another happening to this woman. I won't say too much, but the duchess never gets a break. When something good does happen to her, it gets snatched away by her nasty husband. Granted, this is realistic, which is one of the film's strengths - but it left me feeling depressed and outraged. The humor present near the beginning soon dies in favor of one very bleak picture. A Jane Austen film this is not, so if that is what you are looking for, don't go. Otherwise powerful even if it is bleak.
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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Written October 26, 2008
The Duchess

by jjcrabree

I liked the movie. The acting is superb and the costumes fabulous.
However, I'm not sure how they squeeked by with the PG-13 rating.
There's a lot of sex.
- 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written October 18, 2008
Awesome movie

by KMinATL

This is a must see movie. Keira Knightley is fabulous. The movie is beautifully made and very intriguing. Great history lesson too. Very much enjoyed the movie... so did my fiance. Thus, it's a good movie for males and females.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Written October 6, 2008
The Duchess

by Igotothemoviesalot

The Duchess is a fascinating look at the lifestyles of the rich and famous and royalty of late 18th century England. According to the movie, the duchess was the toast of England, influential in politics and imposing fashion. The recreation of the era, from the clothes to the wigs, was outstanding. "Everybody has a lover!" is one line in the movie that makes you wonder if much has changed in 225 years.
- 15 out of 26 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written October 5, 2008
Costumes sure to be nominated at Oscar time

by swissmiss150

If you log on to the movie's official web site, click on 'costumes' for detailed looks at some of the outfits.

The credits at the end had a long list of costumers and wig makers. Amazing.

Sets very nice - a number of historic homes were filmed for the movie.

I plan to read the book on which this movie was based; it was published about ten years ago.

This is great if you are a British history buff or for anyone who loves period films.
- 7 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written September 30, 2008
the Dutches

by leonlasall

The cinematography is very good, the custums are fanstaic anfd the acting id Oscar material. we enjoy the film alot.
- 5 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written October 11, 2008
Poor Georgiana!

by auburn huntress

Very good movie for the ladies. Based on a true story so educational! The costumes were great! Keira Knightly as Georgiana does a fantastic job. If you look Georgiana Cavendish Dutchess of Devonshire up Keira looks alot like her paintings. This movie makes me really appreciate that I live in this day and age!
- 7 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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So-so
Written October 24, 2008
Interesting but sad

by katiesdottir

I thought this movie would be along the lines of a Jane Austen romance, for some reason. It was an interesting movie, well acted, well filmed, but the story was very depressing and sad. It covers the story of the Duchess' married life and given the times they lived in, the situation of women in that society was pitiful. I'm not sure how any of them managed to be happy. I found the movie depressing. Still, it's interesting from historical and sociological viewpoints. In this political season, it makes me want to fight for my individual rights even more and keep BIG government out of everyone's lives.
- 5 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written October 6, 2008
The Duchess

by valcavin

Excellent film. Knightley and Fiennes do well with their characterizations of people caught in the "shoulds" of their society. Echoes of the situation Princess Diana found herself in. I wonder how it was received in Britain.
- 7 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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