Ralph Fiennes is one of the best actors out there. Why he ever accepted a role in Lord of the Rings simply baffles me. In "The Duchess," Fiennes' performance as the Duke of Devonshire steals the movie and eclipses the visually stunning character played by Keira Knightley, the infamous Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire.

There is certainly an implicit parallel between the life of Georgiana Spencer who became the Duchess of Devonshire in a loveless marriage and that of the late Diana Spencer in our own times. Keira Knightley is not outstanding in her acting, as she never is, but she is supported by several more experienced actors, Fiennes being the best of them.

The plot is predictable: the loveless and thus passionless marriage leads to adultery from both of them. Excellent photography, costumes and editing and strong acting make the movie a pretty decent film to watch. However, the production would have been stronger should the screenplay have not been laced with annoying (and unrealistic for that time) feminism. The feminist touches with Diana resonances make the movie boring and predictable.

Bess Foster (Hayley Atwell), Georgiana’s only friend, catches the eye of the Duke of Devonshire as he is desperately hunting for a mistress. Georgiana eventually falls in love with a young politician, Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper) and decides to get even with her husband by starting her own adulterous affair. In addition, the rising political figure will become the father of her out-of-wedlock child and, later on, prime minister.

The 110-minute movie is rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity and thematic material; 7/10.