Keira Knightley's reign as the queen of British cinema continues apace, but The Duchess appears to prove that she is a one-trick pony.
This peculiarly passionless anti-love story sees Knightley resurrecting the one-note performance she presented in Pride and Prejudice. There is an Emperor's New Clothes aspect to the project which underlines how weak she can be in a leading role.
The Duchess is a slight portrait of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, who was presented to her much older husband as a virgin bride who would bear him sons. Alas, the much anticipated male heir does not materialise, leaving the cold and aloof Duke (Ralph Fiennes) free to pursue his various affairs while Georgiana seeks warmth and love elsewhere.
She finds it in rising politician Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper) while the Duke takes for himself Bess, Georgiana's friend, who is living in their house.
Clunky and over-cooked parallels with Diana, Princess of Wales aside, The Duchess is a magnificent-looking period piece that relies rather too heavily on the look and mood of 18th century high society. But while director Saul Dibb concentrates on the loneliness of privilege, he fails to spark passion between a single member of his cast.
Lamentably, Knightley comes alive for only one scene of domestic discord – as she did in Pride and Prejudice, facing down Judi Dench. At least Cooper and, as Bess, Hayley Atwell, deliver performances of humanity, subtlety and sympathy.
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