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I must admit I went into this film not expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was. I'm sure many non-UK viewers will probably only recognize Helen Mirren's name out of the cast but to me Jim Broadbent, a superb actor who mysteriously never really became an international star, (despite having won an Oscar) totally steals it with a charming excellent central performance and a twinkle in his eye.

The whole cast to be fair are excellent all round and the script has lots of witty humour, some of which is particularly British and may be lost on foreign audiences (such as the joke he tells in court which plays on the Newcastle/Sunderland rivalry). Both Broadbent and Mirren pull off very credible North East accents and the films relatively low budget gives the film an 'intimate' feel that, as another reviewer pointed out, makes this film feel a little like an Ealing black comedy.

The film does have some occasional fruity language and a sex scene so it may not be entirely suitable for children or prudish viewers but if that doesn't bother you and you like the kind of big hearted, low key British crime capers with a twist in the tale from yesteryear such as 'The Lavender Hill Mob' or 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' then you may well enjoy this tale.

I really wasn't expecting to enjoy 'The Duke' as much as I did, but found myself enthralled and charmed by the lighthearted screenplay that also carries a heartwarming message.

The performances from Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren (occasionally dodgy accents aside) are great. Broadbent in particular shines in his role as the lovable rogue Kempton Bunton.

The story is very enjoyable. Lots of effective comedy, some strong messages around social justice that feel very pertinent today, and a central conceit that you won't believe is based on real events!

At only 90 minutes long, the film has a great pace to it, keeping things moving and not getting bogged down in any unnecessary detail. There's nothing particularly flashy in the film making, but it is all very effective.

A brilliant British film and much better than I would have thought.

I did not realise this was based on a true story till the end but that just made the film even more special. Its just a simple story about a simple man that is just so quintessentially British.

The acting is spot on and there are a few great twists and turns to enjoy.

Well worth the watch for anyone to enjoy.

A good story which is told well and has some great acting performances. It wasn't as funny as I was expecting with a fair bit of focus on a tragedy and everyday life, but it was still pretty humorous and enjoyable throughout. The setting and style felt authentic and the seamless use of stock footage complemented this.

One of those quiet films the British do so well. Well cast and acted. Broadbent does his usual turn as a gently bumbling Englishman. I've never seen him in a role that's any different. Mirren is wonderfully grumpy. No great drama but a study of real humans. Based on a true story with some liberty taken with the facts. The trial is a particularly good with much of the dialogue taken from the actual case itself.

This movie put a smile on my face. It was nice to watch something so uplifting and entertaining. Great cast and good characters. I gave it an 8 because the court scenes were so great, the rest of the film is probably a 6.5/7.

Based on actual events, this movie has Jim Broadbent as Kempton Bunton, the man who stole Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery; Helen Mirren as his wife; and Matthew Goode as the lawyer who had to defend Bunton at trial, after he had made a full confession.

I found the first part of this movie a tad onerous, as Broadbent's exploration of Bunton reveals him as shrill, dishonest, and smug, even if his heart is in the right place, and Miss Mirren, looking dowdy and disapproving -- how did they ever get together in the first place? -- keeps reading him the Riot Act. It is only when Broadbent returns the Goya to the National Gallery and fully confesses that the movie shows a breath of life with the appearance of Goode as his rightfully bemused and mildly amused counsel. It is then that the movie opens up, becomes increasingly absurd, and permits Broadbent to show how charming he can be, blathering away on the big screen.

I admit, I am a huge fan of Jim Broadbent. I've always enjoyed everything I've seen him. Almost always, he portrays someone slightly eccentric, which I suppose I relate to.

The Duke, is once again, a gentle British comedy, of which he excels in. Dame Helen Mirren as his long suffering partner gives a well deserved performance but to me, Jim Broadbent steals the show.

If your lucky enough to have lived in the 1960s, or even interested in the period, you will love this slow, gentle comedy, as I did.

I only hope that Jim Broadbent is awarded the critical acclaim for which he is long overdue in receiving. He is an absolute icon of British Cinema and and a National Treasure.

This is an absolute Gem!!!

This is an intriguing and engaging story of an old man who did an impossible heist. It is a pleasure to watch, especially given the talents involved.

Very reminiscent of an Ealing comedy with great performances allrond. Whilst there are shortcomings in the early part of the film,this is made up by the court scenes.

There are some great scenes of London in the sixties and use of the split screen which was all the rage at the time.

Yah, this movie sounded promising when I looked at the trailer. Jim Broadbent is a terrific actor and the story of him stealing an invaluable historic painting was quite promising, but...

The bad: this movie is kinda tedious.

Not any good? The acting performances are great, really good.

The story; this was promoted as a "heist" movie, an old guy stealing a million dollar painting from a museum, BUT in the end this movie is basically nothing else but OLD PEOPLE whining and going about their business. Bummer...

The Duke is a pretty witty movie with interesting characters and a smooth progress, especially when one considers that it is based on a true story, which usually end up boring and too close to a documentary. The performances were also pretty great and the twist in the end brilliant.

Dorothy Bunton (Helen Mirren) is a housekeeper for a highly respected family. She do things by the book, and is strict in her own home when it comes to order. Her husband, Kempton (Jim Broadbent), on the other had, can't keep a job and likes to take chances.

When Kempton refuses to pay his TV license, he is jailed for thirteen days. Believing pensioners should not pay for a TV license, he goes on a 2-day trip to petition for free TV. When no-one listens to his plea, he steals a portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London, saying he will return it when pensioners are exempted from paying for a TV license. The film mainly revolves around his trial. But 'The Duke' is no courtroom drama. It is a hilarious depiction of a man fighting for what he believes in, petitioning on behalf of pensioners, and the events following the 'theft' of the painting.

Let's be honest, 'The Duke' would not have been so funny and enjoyable without the wonderful Jim Broadbent, who is just fabulous as Kempton. Based on a true story, this was a very entertaining movie, and there's even a twist...

I really, really liked this film. The acting is brilliant, Dame Helen Mirren plays an amazing bitter old woman. Even though the film is advertised as a comedy, it is just as much a drama about a family just trying to have their voices heard. The court scene at the end is brilliantly written and definitely hits you in the feels, hard. It was bold, but then again so is the true story behind the film. I commend that man for standing up for what is right and fair, in the face of adversity. I recommend this to any British film lovers, or if you just need a good dramedy in your life for a minute. 4 stolen paintings out of 5.

A tonic for these sombre times, this sweet natured light and easy comedy tells the tale of how in 1961 an eccentric man from Newcastle stole a valuable Goya portrait from London's national gallery. It's a wonderfully old fashioned film which echoes well the flavour humour and style of the Ealing comedies, mixing split screen archive film with superbly grimy re-creations of old Newcastle and London, and just a little bit if social comment too. Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren revel in it all, as do rest of the cast, and the whole things cruises along and raises a many a smile - a tonic indeed. It's also a true story. Highly recommended.

My mum thought that this film looked entertaining and I'm willing to watch pretty much anything so while I didn't go in with high expectations I was still expecting a passable film and while this wasn't a masterpiece I was pleasantly surprised.

The cast is endearing, starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren, both of whom are turning the old person charm up to the max, if you can go away not loving both of them I applaud you. In fact upon leaving the cinema I felt thoroughly uplifted. The story is somewhat predictable but with a few twists it manages to keep you engaged throughout, the script is funny. I didn't laugh loads but the audience I was with were frequently breaking into peels of laughter and coupled with creative editing choices and a pretty decent soundtrack there really wasn't much to complain about. I can imagine it not being everyone's cup of tea but it is charming and leaves you feeling good so what more can you ask? 7/10.

This factual film about the theft of Goya's painting of the Duke of Wellington, by a taxi driver, Kempton Bunton in 1961, has both Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren in top form. This highly enjoyable film delivers fine performances from a stellar cast. The painting is held for a ransom for the price paid by the National Gallery in order to subsidize pensionares and the elderly. Jim Broadbent gives a very comic performance in a court room scene worth many belly laughs. Mirren, as his hard working wife, gives a gritty performance in a very unflattering physical role. Having never heard of this true story, I enjoyed learning something new and enjoyed a very British film with very fine actors portraying real people.

This is a warm hearted, kind, fun movie I needed in my boring daily life. Not too good actually but good enough to make me feel better. I usually like thriller or suspense movies but this type of comedy that no one doesn't get hurt is also my favorite genre. It got thrilled a little in the middle of the story but the kindness every character has made the situation better. That's what I liked about this movie.

The first time I saw Fionn Whitehead was in Dunkirk. So he played a really different role in this movie, which was a nice son Jackie. I'm sure Jackie will be like his father Kempton as he gets old. I hope he will help people as much as Kempton did.

The robbery of Goya's masterpiece The Duke Of Wellington from the National Gallery in London has long been a point of fascination in art theft circles. The crime made it's perpetrator, Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent), a public figure for a brief time.

Roger Michell's final feature film THE DUKE sports a genial tone as the script by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman lays out the backstory. Bunton is portrayed as fiercely anti-establishment who advocates for the elimination of Britain's tax on TV sets for the elderly and other assorted causes. There's a fine line between and agitator and a layabout living on the dole - especially to his wife, Dorothy (an uncommonly dowdy but adept Helen Mirren).

UK filmmakers seem particularly adept at these understated stories, and Michell and his cast seem keen on keeping to that tone. Michell uses old fashioned stock footage montages to punctuate Bunton's visits to London. George Fenton's gentle score and Mike Eley's moody cinematography add to the overall feel of a throwback of sorts.

It's in the final scenes in the courtroom where THE DUKE takes it up a rung or two. Broadbent, who is excellent throughout, commands the dais with a spiked wit. Michell always was at his best in portraying the common man in pictures like PERSUASION, MY COUSIN RACHEL and even in a more broad manner in NOTTING HILL. Some of Bunton's rhetoric may broach Ken Loach or Mike Leigh territory, but Michell and his writers maintain a gentle touch throughout, while still making its points.

The film's final image is of a couple sitting in a movie theater. A beautiful way for Roger Michell's career to fade out with. R. I. P.

P. S. Michell completed a final documentary which is scheduled to be released this year. He passed in September.

Sorry this film is no fun. Drab and dull. Any woman married to this guy would lose it. Not enough jokes. Could have been a good movie played more lighthearted. Pity not a bad story.