The Duchess

Costumes! Costumes! Costumes! Intrigue and scandal among the upper class of Britain in the late Eighteenth Century. Political history of the Whig party. What not to like? The movie has a classical feel throughout much of it, but includes a major plot element involving an open quasi-polygamous relationship---something very unclassical. This is my favorite kind of movie lately, one that plays according to fairly tight traditional rules but explores subject matter and themes that were off-limits until the contemporary era. Keira Knightley earned my respect as an actor, for whatever it's worth. Hayley Atwell is downright erotic in nearly every shot. Perfect casting all around. I don't hear this movie mentioned much regarding awards (surely the costumes, no?) but there is a reason it has hung around in the theaters for two months, going on three. Perhaps it feels a little too much like a television drama for serious awards consideration? (seen at the West Boylston Cinema).