The Duke (2020)

[McCrutchy]

Roger Mitchell's The Duke (2020) can now be pre-ordered. Coming from Pathé UK.

[CelestialAgent]

I had assumed this was Michell’s final film, but he has a second posthumous release, Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts, compiled from archival footage and completed days before his death, released in June.

Don’t know what the extras will be considering Michell is no longer with us, but the preview I went to had a Zoom Q&A with the producer, Broadbent and Mirren, and they set aside some time to remember Michell.

It’s definitely an enjoyable film and I liked some of the stylistic touches, like placing Bunton against archival footage of London. I feel like it suffered a little from seeing the trailer too often, going back to August as the release had been planned for September (a year after the Venice premiere), so some of the punchlines didn’t land as well as they could have. The trailer shows parts of the trial so it wasn’t as moving within the film as well as it should have been, but the trial is also quite a small section whereas the trailer makes it seem like the second half will be a courtroom drama, which it isn’t really.

All the performances are good, but I think the film could have explored Bunton’s motivations a little more, and they could have played up the conflict with the son a little more. Of course there’s only so much historical record they can work with, but the Q&A reveals the wife is pretty much invented for the film with barely any information known about her, and that Broadbent had only one image of the real Bunton to work off in creating his character.

Interestingly the discussion around the TV license is more relevant now, considering plans for perhaps it will be scrapped, and also presenting the TV as a lifeline for lonely older people is also relevant with the pandemic, considering many have had to stay home for almost two years, not always able to see their friends and relatives.

I think my only really issue is the film seems to stick to somewhat of a formula, but I do think some of that goes down to the marketing.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Amazon.co.uk

Extra Content:

• Making Of Featurette
• Nothing But The Truth Featurette
• Q&A with Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren and Producer Nicky Bentham, hosted by Anna Smith

[McCrutchy]

BDInfo scan

The 2.0 track is described audio. English subtitles are HoH in a standard white font.

P.S.: It seems the film has a Dolby Atmos sound mix that is not being included on any Blu-ray announced / released so far:

[Show spoiler]

It is not listed on Dolby's site, however.

                                                                                                                Total   Video                                             
Title                                                           Codec   Length  Movie Size      Disc Size       Bitrate Bitrate Main Audio Track                          Secondary Audio Track
-----                                                           ------  ------- --------------  --------------  ------- ------- ------------------                        ---------------------
00000.MPLS                                                      AVC     1:34:42 25,198,546,944  34,003,936,811  35.48   29.99   DTS-HD Master 5.1 1633Kbps (48kHz/16-bit) DTS-HD Master 2.0 1776Kbps (48kHz/16-bit)

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     THE DUKE
Disc Label:     THE_DUKE
Disc Size:      34,003,936,811 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BDInfo:         0.7.5.6

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00000.MPLS
Length:                 1:34:42.041 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   25,198,546,944 bytes
Total Bitrate:          35.48 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        29991 kbps          1080p / 24 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS-HD Master Audio             English         1633 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz /  1633 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio             English         1776 kbps       2.0 / 48 kHz /  1776 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           English         60.940 kbps                     

FILES:

Name            Time In         Length          Size            Total Bitrate   
----            -------         ------          ----            -------------   
00000.M2TS      0:00:00.000     1:34:42.041     25,198,546,944  35,478          

CHAPTERS:

Number          Time In         Length          Avg Video Rate  Max 1-Sec Rate  Max 1-Sec Time  Max 5-Sec Rate  Max 5-Sec Time  Max 10Sec Rate  Max 10Sec Time  Avg Frame Size  Max Frame Size  Max Frame Time  
------          -------         ------          --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  
1               0:00:00.000     0:07:31.791     30,526 kbps     38,432 kbps     00:06:42.250    33,900 kbps     00:06:38.333    33,362 kbps     00:06:33.375    158,974 bytes   508,033 bytes   00:07:22.916    
2               0:07:31.791     0:08:02.958     31,357 kbps     36,698 kbps     00:12:29.750    33,299 kbps     00:09:16.583    33,081 kbps     00:09:11.500    163,319 bytes   439,597 bytes   00:07:35.375    
3               0:15:34.750     0:07:23.416     32,471 kbps     36,049 kbps     00:16:17.500    33,340 kbps     00:16:13.625    33,120 kbps     00:16:08.541    169,119 bytes   410,142 bytes   00:20:00.000    
4               0:22:58.166     0:06:28.541     29,222 kbps     35,678 kbps     00:26:05.541    33,154 kbps     00:28:57.125    32,957 kbps     00:26:39.125    152,196 bytes   368,132 bytes   00:29:25.000    
5               0:29:26.708     0:07:56.833     29,507 kbps     35,688 kbps     00:35:20.791    33,439 kbps     00:35:16.875    33,047 kbps     00:35:11.583    153,680 bytes   374,114 bytes   00:36:51.750    
6               0:37:23.541     0:08:43.791     31,528 kbps     35,120 kbps     00:43:52.375    33,364 kbps     00:43:48.375    33,123 kbps     00:43:43.375    164,209 bytes   350,208 bytes   00:41:55.833    
7               0:46:07.333     0:08:19.541     31,643 kbps     35,532 kbps     00:50:37.250    33,252 kbps     00:52:36.958    32,978 kbps     00:52:07.458    164,807 bytes   379,094 bytes   00:46:47.041    
8               0:54:26.875     0:07:48.541     30,994 kbps     35,817 kbps     00:58:11.500    33,392 kbps     00:59:38.500    33,118 kbps     00:59:33.500    161,425 bytes   371,959 bytes   00:56:07.000    
9               1:02:15.416     0:08:13.041     32,354 kbps     37,581 kbps     01:08:45.791    33,188 kbps     01:02:49.916    32,977 kbps     01:02:44.833    168,513 bytes   343,547 bytes   01:03:19.875    
10              1:10:28.458     0:06:29.083     32,362 kbps     35,006 kbps     01:15:46.833    33,191 kbps     01:15:36.541    32,993 kbps     01:15:33.875    168,552 bytes   455,633 bytes   01:15:47.875    
11              1:16:57.541     0:06:31.708     32,246 kbps     35,205 kbps     01:18:48.375    33,305 kbps     01:17:59.541    33,061 kbps     01:17:54.500    167,946 bytes   355,490 bytes   01:17:49.541    
12              1:23:29.250     0:11:12.791     20,268 kbps     34,975 kbps     01:25:05.125    33,179 kbps     01:26:42.625    33,004 kbps     01:26:28.791    105,568 bytes   365,908 bytes   01:27:26.833    

STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:

File            PID             Type            Codec           Language                Seconds                 Bitrate                 Bytes           Packets         
----            ---             ----            -----           --------                --------------          --------------          -------------   -----           
00000.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     5681.875                29,992                  21,301,318,091  115,847,520     
00000.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x86            DTS-HD MA       eng (English)           5681.875                1,633                   1,160,027,308   7,188,890       
00000.M2TS      4353 (0x1101)   0x86            DTS-HD MA       eng (English)           5681.875                1,776                   1,261,217,260   7,769,685       
00000.M2TS      4608 (0x1200)   0x90            PGS             eng (English)           5681.875                61                      43,282,823      245,951

Making Of

QUICK SUMMARY:

Disc Title: THE DUKE
Disc Label: THE_DUKE
Disc Size: 34,003,936,811 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00006.MPLS
Size: 709,843,776 bytes
Length: 0:02:49.833
Total Bitrate: 33.44 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 30082 kbps / 1080p / 24 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1653 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Nothing But the Truth

QUICK SUMMARY:

Disc Title: THE DUKE
Disc Label: THE_DUKE
Disc Size: 34,003,936,811 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00040.MPLS
Size: 813,883,392 bytes
Length: 0:03:15.208
Total Bitrate: 33.35 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 29988 kbps / 1080p / 24 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1698 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Q & A with Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren and Nicky Bentham Hosted by Anna Smith

                                                                                                                Total   Video                                             
Title                                                           Codec   Length  Movie Size      Disc Size       Bitrate Bitrate Main Audio Track                          Secondary Audio Track
-----                                                           ------  ------- --------------  --------------  ------- ------- ------------------                        ---------------------
00041.MPLS                                                      AVC     0:25:17 6,310,404,096   34,003,936,811  33.26   29.98   DTS-HD Master 2.0 1597Kbps (48kHz/16-bit)

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     THE DUKE
Disc Label:     THE_DUKE
Disc Size:      34,003,936,811 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BDInfo:         0.7.5.6

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00041.MPLS
Length:                 0:25:17.625 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   6,310,404,096 bytes
Total Bitrate:          33.26 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        29978 kbps          1080p / 24 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS-HD Master Audio             English         1597 kbps       2.0 / 48 kHz /  1597 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)

FILES:

Name            Time In         Length          Size            Total Bitrate   
----            -------         ------          ----            -------------   
00058.M2TS      0:00:00.000     0:25:17.625     6,310,404,096   33,265          

CHAPTERS:

Number          Time In         Length          Avg Video Rate  Max 1-Sec Rate  Max 1-Sec Time  Max 5-Sec Rate  Max 5-Sec Time  Max 10Sec Rate  Max 10Sec Time  Avg Frame Size  Max Frame Size  Max Frame Time  
------          -------         ------          --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  
1               0:00:00.000     0:07:19.708     31,507 kbps     42,915 kbps     00:00:06.875    33,141 kbps     00:02:52.458    32,955 kbps     00:02:00.208    164,084 bytes   637,636 bytes   00:00:03.000    
2               0:07:19.708     0:08:57.750     29,231 kbps     35,890 kbps     00:13:07.250    33,259 kbps     00:13:05.041    33,086 kbps     00:12:58.250    152,243 bytes   569,679 bytes   00:13:07.291    
3               0:16:17.458     0:09:00.166     29,478 kbps     45,976 kbps     00:24:45.208    34,632 kbps     00:24:41.250    33,188 kbps     00:24:36.208    153,541 bytes   637,214 bytes   00:24:46.166    

STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:

File            PID             Type            Codec           Language                Seconds                 Bitrate                 Bytes           Packets         
----            ---             ----            -----           --------                --------------          --------------          -------------   -----           
00058.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     1517.458                29,981                  5,686,940,644   30,928,483      
00058.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x86            DTS-HD MA       eng (English)           1517.458                1,597                   303,013,240     1,887,327

Theatrical Trailer

QUICK SUMMARY:

Disc Title: THE DUKE
Disc Label: THE_DUKE
Disc Size: 34,003,936,811 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00038.MPLS
Size: 579,366,912 bytes
Length: 0:02:18.875
Total Bitrate: 33.37 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 29980 kbps / 1080p / 24 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1696 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 16-bit)

[GoCeltics]

I wish this was 4K but will still purchase.

[TwinCitiesBluFan]

I knew nothing of this story or the film, but watched it on a long-haul flight home yesterday and found it to be delightful! Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren play so well off each other and I found myself totally engrossed in the story. I'm happy to see it has a BD release in the US as well as the UK, so I plan to add this to my collection!