FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: The Duchess [DVD] [2008]

The Duchess [DVD] [2008]
enlarge	Actors: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Charlotte Rampling Studio: Pathe Video Category: DVD List Price: ~~£22.99~~ Buy New: £4.86 as of 20/11/2009 19:16 GMT details You Save: £18.13 (79%) New (16) Used (15) from £3.50 Seller: meercats11 Rating: 79 reviews Sales Rank: 195 Format: PAL Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over Region: 2 Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 105 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5060002836330 ASIN: B001JK6P18 Theatrical Release Date: 2008 Release Date: March 16, 2009 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review Swaddled in whalebone and wigs, Keira Knightley steps into the restricted world of the Duchess of Devonshire, a royal lady popular with her subjects but stuck in an unhappy marriage. If this situation recalls Princess Diana (a descendent of the Duchess's family), so much the better for the purposes of director Saul Dibb and company; this film is eager to draw parallels with the unfortunate Lady Di, as Knightley's unsuspecting girl is married off to the Duke (Ralph Fiennes), a distracted man who craves male sons, and obviously has never thought of women as anything other than a means to achieve an heir. When the Duchess launches her procreative career with a couple of daughters, well, the Duke begins to get nervous--and partners outside the marriage become increasingly appealing. The Duchess serves up lavish portions of Brit-movie staples: costumes (which, in Knightley's case, are nothing short of spectacular), landscapes and gorgeous music (by Rachel Portman). If it falls short in some vague way, perhaps it's because the film is a mostly one-note affair, meaning exactly what it seems to mean at every moment. Charlotte Rampling appears too briefly as Knightley's mother, and Dominic Cooper and Hayley Atwell (from iBrideshead Revisited/i), rising stars both, contribute attractive lures for the principals. They prove the old movie adage: there's a lot to be said for eye candy. /i--Robert Horton, Amazon.com/i

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 79 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...16 Next » Brilliant - a great way of bringing her life to the masses January 1, 2009 Brida (Worcs) 39 out of 48 found this review helpful I went to see THE DUCHESS at the cineam with two girlfriends from work. The film was my choice; neither of my friends were particularly bothered about it, one of whom was not even sure she would enjoy it. However, as we left the cinema and discussed how we had all found it, both of my friends had to agree that they had loved it. br / br /The film is about Georgiana Cavendish, an ancestor of Lady Diana. Married as a young girl, Georgiana is stuck in a loveless marriage. All she has taken from it is the status it brings her. Her husband, the Duke, seems to care more for his dogs than he does for her. It is clear that he views her only as a way of producing an heir. But Georgiana is not the typical lady of the 17th Century. br /If you read the book, you find that she became quite fiercely involved in politics. In a way, she made a name for herself which was separate from that of her husband. br /And, if this film is anything to go by, she was a woman who was able to sacrifice her own happiness for the good of others. The film concentrates on her love of another man - a man she cannot be with, unless she risks the wrath of her husband. br / br /What I, and my friends, loved about this film was how it shows how people can sacrifice themselves for love. The emotion of the film is as true today as it would have been then. Knightley and Fiennes do a great job of acting their parts, drawing you into their story. Watching how it was for women at this time, it is hard to witness his treatment of her. The double standards that existed, almost expected, made us as the audience angry on her behalf. br /While there may be parts of her life that have been left out, or there may be some historical errors, I do not think that it takes anything away from this production. View it as entertainment. The fact that it appealed to my friend who had no prior interest, shows that the film makers have done something right. A splendid movie - a magnificent portrait of an 18th century celebrity April 8, 2009 Klaus van Amelrode 6 out of 7 found this review helpful Georgina Duchess of Devonshire was in her own right an important figure in London society at the end of the 18th / beginning of the 19th century. Based on the book by Amanda Foreman on her the movie captures personality, time and dramas of her life to perfection. I loved the book but one can not expect a movie to be like the book as a movie is a completely different media. But with its very own methods the movie gets the main aspects. The cast is wonderful, but I have to admit that I adored Charlotte Rampling in her role as Lady Spencer, Georgina's mother. Unfortunately, my favourite scene with Rampling became a cut-scene. Oh dear... but all in all this is a movie I really did enjoy. Fascinating, accurate depiction of an overlooked historical era. January 16, 2009 Guitar Heroine (Liverpool, England.) 10 out of 14 found this review helpful As a result of seeing this film, I am also going to look into researching more about Georgiana, the lead character. I cannot, knowing nothing of the central characters in real life as it were, pass comment on judgement on how true to life/historical fact the film was. br / br /I can say, though that the gender and society roles of the time were incredibly well researched and acted, as were sets and costumes. You would expect this to be a given, but given some of the glaring ommissions and inaccuracies in The Other Boleyn Girl, I've learnt not to take such things for granted!! br / br /I was very impressed by Keira Knightley's acting, finding her to be sensitive, convincing and moving in her role. In particular, Ralph Fiennes also did his role an enormous credit as a member of the nobility of his time (despite being a chauvinist in modern terms). br / br /One of the best historical dramas I have seen in a good while, and recommended for anyone who likes such films. the most ambiant and aristocratic art movie of the year January 5, 2009 Dr. U. L. Khawaja (hornchurch ,london) 8 out of 13 found this review helpful after a long time i saw a movie where i lost count of time as i was totally engrossed by the true characters and their realistic execution,keira has taken care to portray a very difficult role without making it look either a trollop or a sentimental victim but rather a woman who is spirited enough to fight but knows when she cannot win a lost war and she is compelling to watch in every frame ,fiennes is fascinating as the wilful,masochistic but pragmatic duke with a soft side,and the truth is presented so well as he glorifies in his bigamous relationship with 2 ladies right in the heart of london,this is a real revelation as it shows our social structure as regards sexuality has not changed in over 2 centuries and possibly neither will , br /the inevitable comparison between georgiana and diana is unmistakble and the fact they were both spencers is really quite surreal , br /but this is grand storytelling like KUBRICK'S BARRY LYNDON,infact the atmospheric lighting is created as in that masterpiece and the origonal locales are stunningly filmed , br /i loved the whole unique experience as it also works as an emotional drama as well as an intelligent look at sexual relationships , br /the part where the two women become understanding of each other as wife and mistress is tremendously touching too . br /i am really glad dave lavished so much praise on this movie as it deserves all of it and rightly so too,the best movie so far this year by any criteria . br / The First Suffragette/Feminist? December 3, 2008 Reikijo (Coventry. Warwickshire) 11 out of 21 found this review helpful I saw the film and was totally taken by the story of this person who has a strong mind, is intelligent and political. Her personality is squashed by society of the day and her husband. br /Film stars aside, this is an historical gem that highlights the role of women at that time. Showing reviews 1-5 of 79 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...16 Next »

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