Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
"The Duke" is the kind of low-key and tasty British tale based on a true story that will please the most jaded cinephile. It is a simple tale that we could use more of in this day and age and, though it may not receive the biggest audience, it is unlikely that anyone won't see how its piquant charm is wore on its sleeve.
Jim Broadbent is a 60-year-old taxi driver named Kempton Bunton who tries to right the wrongs of society - it is his mission in life. One of his campaigns in the city of Newcastle where he resides is for the BBC to stop charging licence fees for televisions, especially the pensioners in his age group when television should be free to everyone (something I never heard of before, all factually based and actually resolved in 2000). Bunton refuses to pay the licence fees and is repeatedly jailed. Bunton himself is married to the dour Dorothy Bunton (Helen Mirren, almost unrecognizable) and they have two sons, one of them is in construction, Kenny (Jack Bandeira), who gets into trouble with the law. There is also a teenaged son named Jacky (Fionn Whitehead) who does his best to defend his father's actions. There was a daughter at one time who died far too soon and much of that grief results in Kempton writing unproduced plays. All Dorothy can do is appear glum and nitpick anything Kempton does.
An inspiration occurs to Kempton when he allegedly steals a priceless Goya painting from the National Gallery of London. His reasons for stealing the painting are mostly justified by insisting he is "borrowing" the painting so as to agree to a ransom in exchange for the BBC to remove the mandated TV licence fees! Yeah, that does not go over well. And when Dorothy discovers the truth behind the painting that is hidden behind the wardrobe, she is more shocked than elated by this man's ballsy moves, no matter the justification.
"The Duke" starts off as extremely low-key and it can be a bit of an endurance test, at first. However, the film finds it footing with the eventual and unusual caper and with Jim Broadbent's winning performance that slowly gains our sympathy. I would say the film becomes perky when he starts complaining about licence fees because we sense he's a man of principle. Quite frankly, despite being based on a true story, I might have included less time with the sons (though one of them figures heavily in the film's denouement). It was hard to muster much interest in them (and the elder son's girlfriend who decides to live with the Buntons who first discovers the stolen painting), as opposed to Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren who could make a movie riveting just from drinking milkshakes (they make a great older couple and show much vitality and nuance).
Regrettably director Roger Michell's last film (he died before it was released), "The Duke" does win you over and inspires one to do good for humanity. Kempton Bunton wants to make the world a better place (and he despises racial bigotry, especially in the work force when it comes to a Pakistani employee) and he no doubt inspires the courtroom during his trial. He will do anything he can to help anyone and is, spoiler alert, found not guilty due to his unforced compassion for others. Helen Mirren's Dorothy slowly realizes his sensibilities are apropos. "The Duke" has a universal charm that we could definitely use more of. I cheered.
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