The Duke (2020) Movie Review

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The Duke – ABC Film Challenge – Favourites – J (Jim Broadbent) – The Duke – Movie Review

Director: Roger Michell

Writer: Richard Bean, Clive Coleman (Screenplay)

Cast

Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge!)
Helen Mirren (The Queen)
Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk)
Matthew Goode (Watchmen)
Jack Bandeira (Gunpowder Milkshake)

Plot: In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year-old taxi driver, steals Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.

Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Duke starts as we meet hardworking taxi driver Kempton Bunton (Broadbent). He is married to Dorothy (Mirren) with children Jackie (Whitehead) and Kenny (Bandeira). Kempton has always campaigned for little things, including free TV licences for the elderly. This has left him getting in trouble over the years.

One day he decides to travel from Newcastle to London to lead a campaign in Westminster. However, he comes up with a new plan and steals the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery. He wants to use the money to help fund other families struggling to pay for their TV licences, in an attempt to steal from the rich to give to the poor. This leads to the biggest trial in the 1960s.

Verdict on The Duke

The Duke is a crime comedy based loosely on a real incident surrounding the crime of Kempton Bunton. He had always campaigned to help the neediest in life, standing up for people being walked over. His latest stunt saw him steal a painting and wanting the money to go to charity, leading to a big court case.

This is a fun crime comedy, it shows how much of a likeable figure he is amongst the figure. It captures the fun nature of everything going on within the world, every day arguing between the married couple. The love they have for one another and how they always found a way to get through life. However, it does pose the question of how the law should have dealt with the situation. The performance from Jim Broadbent is fantastic, becoming the center of every scene throughout the movie. He brings charm, charisma and delight to everything he does.

Final Thoughts – The Duke is a delightful crime comedy.