Listings for Friday, November 14, through Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Duchess

Capsule by J.R. Jones

From the Chicago Reader

This historical melodrama gets much of its kick from the parallels between its 18th-century heroine--Georgiana Spencer, who married to become duchess of Devonshire--and her descendant Diana Spencer, the tragic princess of Wales. Played with nostril-flaring indignation by Keira Knightley, Georgiana foolishly weds the icy William Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes), who wants nothing from her besides a male heir. ("My wife is in labor!" he announces as she's led howling from a party. "I think this calls for a toast.") The duchess becomes a beloved figure in Britain, but the duke humiliates her by taking as his mistress her best friend, Lady Elizabeth Foster (Hayley Atwell), then conspires to quash her tit-for-tat romance with progressive Whig politician Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper). Adapted from a biography by Amanda Foreman, this is scandal-mongering fun that also lays bare the deforming power of the male aristocracy. Saul Dibb directed; with Charlotte Rampling and Simon McBurney. PG-13, 110 min.

This movie is currently playing at: Pickwick | Renaissance Place | 600 N. Michigan

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