The Duchess is clearly Knightley's movie, ultimately rising or falling on her performance. She's up to the task, capturing both the charm and grace that made Georgiana so captivating.
– Bill Goodykoontz,
Arizona Republic,
9 Oct 2008
rotten:
It's disturbingly shallow, focused so tightly on one woman's feelings of repression and loneliness that it lacks any perspective on their causes.
– Tasha Robinson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Oct 2008
fresh:
It chronicles the saga of a vibrant and forward-thinking woman hampered by the constraints of a rigid society.
– Claudia Puig,
USA Today,
18 Oct 2008
fresh:
There's something really special about Kiera Knightly in these period pieces.