Thursday, November 06, 2008

The Abandoned Duchess

I still haven't made it to The Duchess. Have you?

Keira Knightley holds a candlelight vigil, praying for you to see her movie

Share your experience in the comments. This one slipped by me.
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25 comments:

Guy Lodge said...

Uh, it's pretty, um... well... it's pretty. That's it, really.

My review, should anyone care to read it:

http://www.incontention.com/?p=1719

Anonymous said...

I saw the film and is pretty. Oscar noms for Art Direction and Costume. Keira Knightley is... well OK, I suppose (Her buzz is strange and I think in a year with strong conteders will be unfair nominate her and not Scott-Thomas or Leo), but the real star is Ralph Fiennes. He overshadow her in more of one scene

Reel Whore said...

I'm right there with you Nathaniel. It's got a single showing at 3 at one theater in my area.

Maybe I'll shuffle over to see it this weekend. Then again, maybe not.

Anonymous said...

Better than I was expecting, but not something I'd rave about. Art and costumes were beautiful, and Fiennes is great. I was surprised he wasn't getting more ink as a possible supporting actor nomination, because he is wonderful as a very peculiar and not very nice man.

Anonymous said...

See it for Fiennes, it's a great performance that needs a lot more buzz to get nominated. He's so good that if it was any other year, if he got nominated he'd probably win the damn thing. But we all know this is Ledger's year hands down.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't her hair scare anyone else? Seriously, it's insane in the trailers. Like it will attack me if I dare step into the theatre.

Anonymous said...

Knightley is very good, not Pride and Prejudice good, but still very solid, Fiennes' frigid stare is shrill and callous. Rampling bores. As for the movie-absolutely mediocre. I guess I can say... I liked the costumes?

Billy D said...

Costumes were amazing, Knightley (who I adore) is competant and lovely, and seems to really understand the part, but the role and the film in general are so cliched. Its like fucking primongeniture is the only thing movie makers think we'll understand. "Give me a male heir!" blah blah blah. The book was far more interesting. And Ralph Fiennes was meh. Oh, the rolling around semi-naked with Dominic Cooper was very nice as well.

Guy Lodge said...

Fiennes is getting a lot of praise for this, but I'm afraid I can't join in -- I thought his performance mannered, to say the least. (I'd much rather see him get supporting attention for In Bruges, but that won't happen.)

Knightley is a bit better, I think. But still... meh.

Anonymous said...

the movie was alright... Knightly gorgeous, but only closeups of her for the entire picture ( which were great ) but acting on her part was mediocre... Fiennes I think as always was great ... he is so underrated.

Anonymous said...

I saw the film. It's pretty, and that's it. The music isn't great (underdeveloped) but the costumes and art direction are quite lovely.

I would pretty much rule it out of most categories except those at this point, and even then, it's a long shot.

E Dot said...

I haven't seen it yet, but I have a question suggestion to post on your blog, Nate. Out of the past 10 years, which Best Actress winner deserved the oscar most? And which one the least?

And you can only pick one.

Anonymous said...

I thought Knightley did a fantastic job with what she was given - it was the script that was the weak link. I wish she was given more buzz, for playing such a complicated woman at the age of 23. I'm excited to see her upcoming performances, I think she is a rare gem we have in the industry.

Fiennes was fantastic as well, but it was Knightley's film through and through (she'll probably remain in my top 10 of the year). Costumes were fabulous as well.

Peter Chan said...

I miss the older Keira Knightley films, the ones where she doesn't seem pretentious. Can't she just be charming and sweet like she always was in 'Bend It Like Beckham'?

Anonymous said...

I liked it. It was overwrought in some parts, especially near the end, but it moved very quickly and of course it was great to look at. Everyone was just a step below top notch. Then again, I did see the preview in the theater about 30 times so I had the whole movie memorized by the time I saw it.

J.D. said...

It's been in my area for like a month, but like really far away and it still hasn't expanded, LOL. I should probably just see it already. I still really want to.

Emma said...

I have indeed, on downloaded DVD rip. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and Keira was really good.

Anonymous said...

It wasn't bad, but it was completely forgettable. If you have other things to do instead of seeing it then do them instead.

Ralph Fiennes was very good in it, but the cold, dead-eyed, emotionally detached character kind of played to all his strengths as an actor, so it wasn't exactly a stretch for him.

Anonymous said...

A bit off topic, have you watched "Wendy and Lucy"? What about Michelle Williams? I've read a few critics say hers is the performance of the year.

NATHANIEL R said...

Cissa, i have indeed. if you look at the sidebar under screenings/reviews you can follow along as to what i'm watching.

Anonymous said...

i think michelle williams may surprise us with a few critics notices as for knightley good but not atonement good or p and p v good where she was fab playing to all her strengths but i will say this she needs an eternal sunshine of the spotless mind quick before she becomes helena bonham carter.

Anonymous said...

I thought Knightley has improved alot since Pride & Prejudice. Just watch her eyes! Some of the scenes were particularly moving.

Overall i thought the film was good. You're typical BBC drama uf you like. They're always good to watch but never groundbreaking.

Anonymous said...

I thought Joe Wright did an excellent directing job with Knightley in "Atonement". He made her look womanly, and no longer girlish. He said he constantly directed her to "stop pouting".

But from the pictures of "The Duchess", she's gone back to pouching out her lips in that weird way. I wish she'd stop. It makes her expressions look weird, and stops full facial expression from happening and flowing.

Glenn Dunks said...

I thought it was a solid film with some great moments, but not altogether rousing enough to warrant much thought. Keira was actually quite lovely, but I can't get on the same train of praise for Fiennes who only gets one scene of weakness and it's still fairly flat.

Anonymous said...

It was fun and pretty. Nothing great, but I liked it. Keira & Fiennes were both good. Keira needs to do something completely different to get another nomination though.

I also think that Michelle may surprise and get a nod with the help of critics awards.


My Predictions: I'm thinking in terms of who's in the Academy.

Winslet-If Blanchett got in for her over the top Elizabeth II performance Kate will definitely get in.

Streep- The movie would have to completely bomb for her not to get in, like Winslet she will get in on name alone.

Scott Thomas- Her reviews are fantastic it'll be hard for the Academy to ignore


Sally Hawkins- Poppy has been everywhere lately- Same reason as Scott Thomas

Michelle Williams- I think she'll be the surprise nominee hardly anyone saw coming (I know people have mentioned her, but she hasn't been on the forefront yet.)


Angelina- I just can't help but think that if she didn't get in for a Mighty Heart (a good film) she won't get in for a mediocre one.

Anne- It seems the buzz is fading and the onslaught of contenders coming pretty soon could cancel her out.

If Michelle is out than I can see Anne getting in.


Who do I want to win...... El Winslet and I'm thinking she will, even if her performance isn't the best.


~Ariel~