The Duchess (2008)

Murray finds the film’s story of Georgiana’s shift from idealism to practicality fairly moving, despite its middlebrow approach. He praises Keira Knightley’s performance and says the parallels to Lady Diana work better as a reflection on ordinary people’s thwarted dreams.

Ebert gives the film a positive verdict. He highlights Keira Knightley’s performance and the film’s period setting.

Kermode finds the film admirably unsentimental, balancing period style with contemporary relevance. He praises Keira Knightley’s restrained portrayal of Georgiana’s social isolation and reinvention.

The review finds the biopic classy and well-crafted, though its third act sags slightly. It praises Keira Knightley’s enigmatic performance and the film’s intimate observational details, especially its dining scenes.

Turan finds the film handsome and restrained, while saying Ralph Fiennes’ performance as the duke ultimately dominates it. He especially praises Fiennes’ subtle, quietly complex portrayal of a powerful man perplexed by his wife.

Croce finds the period drama watchable but too restrained to explore its heroine’s more compelling, bitter years. He praises Keira Knightley’s emotionally alert performance, which makes Georgiana an affecting blend of wit and concealed tragedy.

Honeycutt finds the film an accomplished but uninspired costume drama that does not fully convey Georgiana’s modernity. He praises Keira Knightley’s performance and the production’s grand estates, while criticizing the melodrama as bloodless.

Basham finds the film a somewhat soap-operatic period piece, but says its performances make it worthwhile. He especially praises Keira Knightley’s portrayal of Georgiana and singles out Hayley Atwell’s performance as another highlight.

The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. Its URL suggests a complaint about the film’s corseted approach, but the article text is unavailable.

Realf finds the film handsome but emotionally tame, falling short of becoming a classic. She praises its lavish sets, costumes and colour, while faulting the lack of sexual tension and chemistry.