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From my favorite movies..

Expected more

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Britons might be sorely divided in their desire to be in or out, but there is one topic on which they are forever united - their passion, or rather their obsession with their Royalty. Here's one small indicator. When we rented an apartment in Cambridge, one of the first tasks we had to undertake was to move the huge volume of our landlady's book collection to the garage. More than half of those garage full of books dealt with the Royal family!Of course, the most obsessed over member of that family is undoubtedly Princess Diana. A film, based on the life of her great-great...aunt the Duchess of Devonshire which had an uncanny similarity with Lady D's own life, is bound to generate a lot of interest. Apparently, the trailer of this 2008 movie even used a couple of Lady D shots to ensure that.However, for folks outside the orbit of that royal obsession, this is basically about the life of an aristocratic woman trapped in the social mores of her time, despite all the worldly privileges that came with her rank and status. Unfortunately, the movie could not rise above its curiosity value (even while giving us an excellent glimpse into the English aristocratic life in the eighteenth century) as the events, instead of flowing smoothly, had somewhat of a jerky feel. As if we are given a lesson in history, above all.Keira Knightly, as expected, is a natural in the role of an old-world English Duchess. But Ralph Fiennes is totally wasted in the role of the Duke of Devonshire. Watching this, I wouldn't have believed him emerging with that commanding presence of M in Spectre a few years down the line.

It's 1774 England. Georgiana (Keira Knightley) is arranged by her mother Lady Spencer (Charlotte Rampling) to marry the older Duke of Devonshire William Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes). She is eager for high society but finds him personally cold. He brings in a girl who is probably his bastard child. He is bitter that Georgiana delivers him a girl. She becomes a popular figure. She befriends Lady Bess Foster (Hayley Atwell) who is desperate to get back her children from her abusive husband. The Duke starts an affair with Bess in a long line of many mistresses and he is able to get her back her children. Georgiana starts her own affair with Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper).This is a solid costume drama anchored by a powerful performance from Knightley. The other cast members also deliver led by Fiennes. He is a layered villain and a real human being. Atwell is also great as her character is caught up in an impossible situation. This is a slow deliberate burn. The beauty of the costumes hide an ugliness underneath it all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this period drama. Keira Knightley's performance is brilliant, the costumes (her extreme hair) and sets are gorgeous, the true (ish) story involving and Ralph Fiennes is perfect as Georgina's callus, indifferent husband.This really is Keira Knightley's movie though and she does a fantastic job capturing the charm, intrigue, frustration and (often) scandalous exploits of Georgina Spencer, the duchess of Devonshire in 18th century England."G" was the original "it girl" with uncanny parallels to her direct descendant Princess Diana. She was glamorous, popular and adored by an entire country but also haunted by the fact that the only man in England she could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke. When she tried to find her own way the resulting controversies and liaisons left all of London talking.I especially liked the multilayered take we get from all the characters here. Ralph Fiennes wasn't just the "evil husband", he was a man of his times, giving a complex and sympathetic edge to his character.I wasn't overly impressed with Dominic Cooper as Charles Grey, a flat forgettable sort, for such a heart wrenching love affair. I did like the introduction of Bess Foster as the other woman or other wife as the case may be and definitely felt G's frustration as her husband continued his adulterous liaison right in front of her while at the same time refusing to allow her to have her own, threatening to take the children.What an involving soap opera-ish storyline with the servants standing and listening in to all the arguments and scandal, forgotten by the players like they aren't even there. 10/12/15

I have just finished seeing this film on TV. I come a lot to this site to read reviews but just a few i wrote. But sometimes you feel compelled. And although i see this film has a reasonable rating i really found it more worth that that. First of all, the director, i never heard of Saul Dibb. I see he has not much on his record when i searched him here. But my God what a well made, constantly enternaining drama. I liked almost everything about it. Especially the performance from Keira Knightley. A very powerful one that still leaves me speechless for now. Only thing that i would of liked to see a bit more where Ralp Fiennes personal dissisions he hade to make in this film..Update: I must engage you to really see this one. Have to add in my update that it just moved me deeply, made my shed a tear, but also mad ma angry at times. And isn't that what a brilliant film is all about. Again, all the compliments to Keira Knightley. I hope she gets these messages through somewere because she is so more talented then i thought when wactching Pitates of the Carabian, a real enlightment to watch. Enjoy . If you like films like the fast and the furious though i think this isn't for you.