(Left to right:) Charlotte Rampling as Lady Spencer, Ralph Fiennes as the Duke of Devonshire, Keira Knightley as Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, and Hayley Atwell as Bess Foster, in "The Duchess", directed by Saul Dibb. The film expanded its theatrical release today in San Francisco and other U.S. cities after opening last week in New York and Los Angeles. (Photo: Paramount Vantage)
THE POPCORN REEL FILM REVIEW/"The Duchess"
For The Duchess All The World's A Stage, But She's Not Amused
By
Omar P.L. Moore/September 26, 2008
"The Duchess", which opened today in San
Francisco and other additional U.S. cities is a curious case: it has some great
acting by Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, but overall as a film is formulaic
and staid. It is difficult for many a costume drama to be little else
perhaps, especially as a period piece but with accomplished actors like veteran
Charlotte Rampling also supplying her usual brilliance, the film's director Saul
Dibb is mostly at fault for not being able to raise the film's material onto a
higher pedestal. Amazingly flat, "The Duchess" never gains traction.
The costumes (by Michael O'Connor) and the cinematography (Gyula Pados) are
luminous and impressive but these are just about the only saving graces in Mr.
Dibb's film, which chronicles the life of the 18th century British royal
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who reluctantly shared her husband with
another woman. The Duchess is tormented, triumphant and beloved. She
is scorned and adored by suitors, especially one Charles Grey (played by Dominic
Cooper), who seeks her hand in marriage and other heated affairs.
As stated, Miss Knightley is impeccable as the Duchess, as is Mr. Fiennes as the
Duke. Hayley Atwell also does well as Bess Foster, the intervening third
wheel in the turbulent marriage of the Duchess and Duke. The screen story
is written by Mr. Dibb and Jeffrey Hatcher and Anders Thomas Jensen and is based
on Amanda Foreman's book Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, but
unfortunately doesn't deliver the kind of story engagement that an eye-popping
film like this needs. For visual reasons, even though much more muted,
"The Duchess" is the equivalent of the 2004 Zhang Yimou film "Curse Of The
Golden Flower" -- which was a visually stunning work of art but a disappointing
film substance-wise. After all the eye absorption, that film, which
promised so much, just didn't engage.
And "The Duchess", which should rivet us based on the fantastic work of its
actors, ends up only mildly winning us over. It's a moral victory of
sorts, but it's still a hollow one. Mr. Dibb knows how to compose sweeping
shots of palatial exteriors in Bath, but the proof is in the Yorkshire pudding
-- and like that English county in its relationship distance-wise to Devon, "The
Duchess" is miles away, and that's just too bad. James Ivory or the late
Ismail Merchant or Mira Nair may have executed the story's substance in a more
compelling way. When you have a canvas of great actors, one should provide
them the material befitting their reputations and skill sets. Mainly for
this reason "The Duchess" lacks some much needed seasoning. The film's
initial trailer, which promised passionate sex and vigor is a ruse, as the film
itself is mostly without fire, or even a spark in any respect -- carnally or
otherwise.
"The Duchess" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for
sexual content, brief nudity and thematic material. The film's duration is
one hour and 50 minutes. The film opened last week in New York City and Los
Angeles.
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