The Duchess

Unlike the vast majority of period romance/drama stories, this movie is fairly fast-paced, witty, and guy-friendly. There are no endless painful conversations about topics unrelated to the prime plot. There are not drawn-out sweeping scenic vistas with music designed to induce weeping.

If you are a guy and your girl wants to see this, fear not. Score some points and go along. It'll be worth your time and interest. If you are a girl, take your guy along and give him credit for sticking with this story.

Keira Knightley does her best work to date here. Her range is obvious. Her character has a emotional roller coaster life. Based on actual events, this story is a great peek inside what was going on in England around the time of the American Revolution. We Yanks think we were the center of the universe back then, be this story shows how the colonies were but a side issue to the Crown and court.

Watch this movie with whomever wants you to.