Starring Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Fionn Whitehead, Anna Maxwell Martin and Matthew Goode. Written by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman, directed by Roger Michell. 96 minutes long.
This 'based on real life' comedy drama tells the story of the 1961 theft of a painting called the Duke of Wellington by Goya from the National Gallery. Starring the superb tag team of Jim Broadbent (whose film this is) and the always excellent Helen Mirren.
Broadbent plays Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old idealist, social activist and would-be playwright who steals the £140,000 painting in a bid to blackmail the government into giving away free TV licences to all O.A.Ps and war veterans. His world-weary wife, Dorothy (Mirren) struggles with both her bottled up grief at the death of their 18-year old daughter several years earlier and trying to keep the family financially afloat as she works as a clearer.
Meanwhile, Kempton, bounces from one minimal job to another thanks to his strong sense of social justice, which sees him stand up to racism, giving away free taxi rides to disabled war veterans - to the chagrin of his employers, and spending spells in prison for his refusal to buy a tv licence.
Aided in his antics by his loving son, Jackie (Whitehead) Kempton seems to bounce through life like a teenage rebel, his passion and earnestness makes him a deeply likeable character but this has the adverse effect of making Dorothy seem almost unlikeable, so buttoned up and angst-ridden is she.
With its mix of gentle humour, loveable working class characters and undercurrent of sadness and grief, The Duke feels like is a 21st Century Ealing Studio comedy, which is no bad thing.
Featuring great performances, a good soundtrack and some very nice cinematography that at times mixes Broadbent into vintage footage this was a thoroughly enjoyable, and like its hero, likeable movie, which is well worth a visit.
8/10
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