‘The Duchess’ Directed by: Saul Dibb Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes 2 out of 5 stars

Kiera Knightley is a beautiful, talented young actress – but this film was not one of her best. And since ‘The Duchess’ was entirely about her, the film didn’t quite cut it.

The direction was weak, the writing was completely out of this film’s realm and the cinematography wasn’t anything to jump about.

In technical terms, ‘The Duchess’ was a failure. Knightley’s charisma, superb acting ability and big hair savored what little chance this film had at becoming anything other than that film only people older than 60 go see at a Wednesday matinee.

Last year’s ‘Atonement’ was Knightley’s chance to snatch an Oscar, but her performance as the Duchess of Devonshire was written for an older actress, and that single restriction will probably keep her away from the Academy Award.

Two-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes’s character, the Duke of Devonshire, was disturbing and played suitably so, but, once again, bad writing held him back.

The screenwriting for ‘The Duchess’ was flavorless at best. Granted, the film is portraying 18th-century England, but I doubt conversations among political elites were as bland as the ones portrayed in the film.

The sex scenes were the only scenes of passion in the entire film, aside from a random clip of Knightley watching her children play a game of tag in the grass.

Nothing stood out about the lighting, set or direction.

The musical score was solid, but not spectacular.

Most of the cinematography used Knightley as a shield for bad technique – all of the powerful scenes were uncomfortable close-ups of her face, which she carried strongly. But while Knightley is certainly a promising young actress, she is no Daniel Day-Lewis.

‘The Duchess’ will get its Academy Award nomination, and without a doubt win, the Oscar for costume design. The gowns were extravagant, elegant and enthralling. Knightley’s three-foot-tall fake hair was something of a mystery. Though I wasn’t sure what was inside of it, I couldn’t look away. At some points I was convinced a family of birds was going to fly out.

When in small, tight curls, Knightley’s hair design was high-class and intriguing, but sometimes it just looked like a mess of hairspray and twigs. The highlight of the film was when Knightley’s character, in a drunken stupor, caught her wig on fire. She ran around a ballroom like a lit match while spectators backed away. Her husband stepped in after a bystander threw the wig off and simply said, ‘Someone please put out my wife’s wig.’

The film relied totally on the fashion of the era, neglecting the romance aspect as well as the entire writing process of film making. It’s really too bad, because Knightley looked great and is really beginning to mature into an amazing actress.

rdjone03@syr.edu

Published on October 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm