Metacritic Movie Ratings
The Duchess Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 88

  out of 100

  Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert

  This is not one of those delightful movies based on a Jane Austen novel. It is about hard realists, constrained in a stifling system and using whatever weapons they can command.

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• 80

  out of 100

  Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan

  Even surrounded by all this quality work, Ralph Fiennes, who plays William Cavendish, the fifth duke of Devonshire, the most powerful man in England next to the king, walks off with the picture.

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• 75

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum

  Fiennes speaks with his body what the script cannot formulate about what it's like to be a man apart. The actor creates particulars of time, space, class, and personality with one crook of a finger, one twist of a wrist. I call that nobility of craft; he's the actors' prince.

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• 75

  out of 100

  USA TodayClaudia Puig

  Princess Diana's antecedent, both genetically and figuratively, was a beautiful and glamorous duchess named Georgiana Spencer. Like her descendant, her charm and vivacity captivated England.

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• 70

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt

  Keira Knightley is a terrific choice to play the 18th century socialite.

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• 60

  out of 100

  VarietyJustin Chang

  A serviceable picture that offers all the sumptuous visual pleasures of a historical costume drama, yet little in the way of actual history.

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• 40

  out of 100

  The New York TimesManohla Dargis

  An overstuffed, intellectually underbaked portrait of a poor little rich girl.

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See all The Duchess movie reviews at Metacritic.com