Pretty to look at

Rating: 5/10 (16 October 2008)

This movie is pleasant to look at - the costumes and the sets are lavish, and would look even better if they were better lit and the lighting director didn't worry about what lighting was really like in 18th century interiors. This is a commercial movie, after all, not a BBC documentary.
And the acting is all very fine. You really feel for the poor duchess, who is trapped in a prison I would not wish on any man or woman.
But in the end, the problem with this movie is the script. It doesn't build to anything. Suddenly the movie is over, and I went: Oh? Each scene is fine, well-acted and well-directed. The movie has points to make and it makes them well.
But there is no structure, no build. It just moves from scene to scene, with no apparent direction.
A shame, as everything else was so good.