The Duchess ***

Caste system? Check. Heaving bosoms? Check. A woman ahead of her time? Check. All of this and everything else you expect in a bodice-ripper is entertainingly presented in "The Duchess", a star-vehicle movie for actress Keira Knightley and only the second film of British director Saul Dibb. Disguised as a high-brow period-piece, this film's historically-based story would fit smack right in a prime-time soap opera a la Brothers & Sisters or Desperate Housewives, but with great costumes, enhancing score by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman, and huge, awesome hair. Oh, and the party scene with longing looks amidst the choreographed group bounce-dancing of the day - gosh, can it get any better?! Knightley shows range, subtlety and wit in playing Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire - and distant relative of the former Lady Diana Spencer. Ralph Fiennes as the awkward Duke is at least one dimension short of three - a deficiency of the screenplay. WHY is he the way he is? Nevertheless, very good performances all around - including newcomer-to-me Hayley Atwell - kicked this movie up a notch in roles that could easily have devolved into trite characterizations - and usually do in less movies. A too quick wrap-up left me wanting a bit more of this true-life tragedy, but points for closing it on a truthful note.