| Reviews
"The Duchess" is a based on the true story of Lady Georgiana Cavendish,a noted English beauty,whose antics as the Duchess of Devonshire raised many eyebrows back the late 1700s. The film stars Keira Knightley in a role perfectly cast. The score for this movie was created by perhaps the finest woman film composer,Oscar -winner Rachel Portman. Portman,who won that Oscar with the music to "Emma",is simply superb here. The use of strings,especially the haunting violin solos thru-out the film has less the feel of a score but more like a mini-symphony. She has captured the deep,dark feel of the period,but not the bitterness of a failed romance and carefree style of living the Duchess was known for living. The somber feel of the score rings true,as the Duchess watched her best friend carry on a affair with her husband even as she herself was having a daughter out of wedlock. The score is one a haunting one...its as if Portman transported herself into Georgiana's shoes and put the emotions of this troubled life into this score. One of the best scores of the year. |