[Rating: Solid Rock Fist Up]
Now in theaters
Each year it seems, British cinema always sends out delightful dramedies that they know are going to delight audiences of all generations. For me personally, these flicks are indeed always a nice tug-at-the-heartstring popcorn movie you can enjoy if you really want to spend a few hours in a theater. This outing, we have The Duke (directed by Roger Michell) which tells the true story of Kemoton Bunton (Jim Broadbent) who in 1961 confessed to a painting theft. Though Bunton is an average down on his luck man, he becomes an unlikely hero for the viewer!
In 1961 the famous Goya painting Portrait of the Duke of Wellington was purchased by the National Gallery of London for a considerable sum. Meanwhile in Northern England , Bunton is campaigning against the BBC for having them make elderly citizens, particularly war veterans, pay an outrageous sum to view the television channel. Bunton’s luck at jobs never succeeded. His wife Dorothy (Helen Mirren) is the breadwinner of the household and any chance Bunton is given to keep a job, he eventually flubs up and ends up unemployed. This is a couple that has been burdened with many hardships in their lives, including the death of a daughter that Dorothy has a hard time speaking of. Bunton, on a trip to London to protest the BBC, ends up in the National Gallery. When all the guards lock up for the night, we see Bunton sneak into the museum and “borrow” the painting of the Duke of Wellington in the hope he can return it once the government exempts his elder statesmen from paying BBC fees. Son Jackie (Fionn Whitehead) joins him in his attempt to prevent his wife from finding the Goya painting within a wardrobe.
This was a delightful film! I think it starts out a bit slow as we get to know Bunton, but that is a choice to expand who this man is to audiences who are not familiar with this story. In a brisk 90 minutes, the film really pushes you to root for Bunton even though this crime was obviously a crime. As a result, the audience member cannot see this sweet man as guilty. Bunton fights for the everyday citizens who paid their dues fighting in wars that permanently scarred many. One quote in this film that stuck with me was “television is the best cure for loneliness.” Television and movies have that power to prevent even the most humble of art thefts.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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