The Duke movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Duke

This fun comedy is available in theaters on April 22, 2022.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 36 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

This entertaining movie is based on a true story. In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year-old taxi driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on the condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly — he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television. What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge — Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage — how and why he used the Duke to achieve that is a wonderfully uplifting tale.

The movie was originally supposed to release in 2020, but because so many theaters were closed due to the pandemic, the opening was delayed. Sadly, director Roger Michell passed away just 7 months ago.

THINGS I LIKED:

They had me at Dame Helen Mirren. I absolutely adore her. She’s wonderful in this, of course.
Jim Broadbent is fantastic and such a delight to watch. Director Roger Michell insisted that Jim Broadbent star in the movie and warned he’d walk away from the project if Jim couldn’t be in it. Jim Broadbent is perfect and extremely charming as the Everyday Man.
You’ll learn a few things about the Duke of Wellington in British history.
Some real footage from the newsreels discussing the theft is shown.
Fun fact: Helen Mirren and director Roger Michell convinced EON (the producers of the James Bond franchise) to allow them to use a short clip of one of their movies in this film. The small fee they paid for the privilege was donated to charity. The clip is a perfect addition to one of the scenes in this movie because it features the portrait of the Duke of Wellington by Goya!
I love it when movies reference other movies. In this case, the original West Side Story and others are mentioned by Kempton Bunton because he’s excited to watch them on the “tele.”
There is a lovely blend of humor and a delicate look at grief.
You truly feel transported back in time.
Snappy musical score by George Fenton.
As a writer, it was fascinating to see the part of the story when Kempton Bunton tried to get some of his manuscripts published for plays he had written. Ironically, his manuscript about grief was rejected by a publisher in a letter explaining to him that audiences don’t want to consume content about grief.
At the end of the movie, we get to see a picture of the real Kempton Bunton and discover the rest of the story.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some Americans might have a difficult time understanding certain British accents used in the movie. That’s where subtitles can come in handy!
Some of the actual events are tweaked for the telling of the story in movie form. For example, the film makes it look like only months passed between the theft of the painting and its return, but it was closer to 4 years.
It’s a bit problematic to declare a thief NOT guilty simply because he said he had a good reason for stealing something.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity, including F-bombs.
Kids will be completely bored.
There’s a scene that shows movement, sound, and facial expressions during a pre-marital affair

THEMES:

Grief and death
Political involvement
Right vs. wrong
Artwork
Sticking it to the man
History
Family
TV
Faith in people
“the greater good of mankind”
“try to do a bit of good in this world”

FUNNY LINES:

“My wife always supports me in private.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)
“Television, gentlemen, is the modern cure for loneliness.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)
“Not a lot rhymes with ‘TV’.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)
“Had servants in prison, did ya?” – Lilya Frances (Helen Mirren)
“Shakespeare must be shaking in his boots.” – Lilya Frances (Helen Mirren)

INTERESTING LINES:

“There’s nothing more powerful than when a community discovers what it cares about.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)
“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent) quoting Mahatma Ghandi
“I’m not made without you.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)
“There’s good and bad in all of us.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)
“You can’t help the dead but you can be inspired by them.” – Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)